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The bill also contains provisions, unrelated to Medicare, which will lower the cost of all drugs -- benefiting not only Medicare beneficiaries and the program, but every consumer. The law injects competition into the Medicare marketplace, which will drive down the price of drugs. Private health plans have largely been successful in negotiating discounts with pharmaceutical manufacturers. Beneficiaries enrolled in a Medicare prescription drug program or a Medicare Advantage program will reap additional savings, since these plans will likely combine the attributes of a private insurance company and a pharmacy benefit manager (PBM).

The only thing that will drive down the cost of healthcare, including prescription drugs, will if the consumer directly pays for more of the services or products directly.

Having the government pay for the cost of prescription drugs is the surest way to increase the cost of prescription drugs. A third-party paying for products and services is the problen, a problem that gets worse thanks to this socialist plan.

If there was a true interest in reducing the cost of prescription drugs, seniors would be given greater access to buy drugs on the free market from countries like Canada and Mexico.

The only thing that will drive down the cost of healthcare, including prescription drugs, will if the consumer directly pays for more of the services or products directly.

That is part of the drug provision. Monthly premiums, co-pays, deductibles, and coinsurance once the deductibles are reached. The commercial market knows that a patient out-of-pocket share in paying for services will inhibit over- and often unnecessary ultilization of benefits. Frankly, I think the deductible for the drug benefit is rather high. Most people will never blow past it.

If there was a true interest in reducing the cost of prescription drugs, seniors would be given greater access to buy drugs on the free market from countries like Canada and Mexico

Non starter.Geez , you sound like NBCCBSABCCNNCNBCMSNBC here. Do you have the first clue why it appears to be so much cheaper outside the US and why your suggestion, though I am certain is heart felt, is head wrong? You can tell me because if you think about it, you have the answer.(hint-part of the problem is one of the Democrat Presidential wannabees)

If there was a true interest in reducing the cost of prescription drugs, seniors would be given greater access to buy drugs on the free market from countries like Canada and Mexico.

This is a flawed argument. It has been shown on other threads discussing the costs of perscription drugs that the low costs of drugs in other countries is being subsidized by the higher cost of drugs in the U.S. Increasing the volume of low cost drugs sold outside the U.S. will only drive the prices higher in the U.S.

The only true way to reduce the cost of drugs is to eliminate overhead involved with development, documentation and liability.

More energy should be expended on finding creative, innovative ways to attack the overhead aspect rather than trying to play shell games with point of purchase.