[ClearCase_guy]

In the normal course of events, if an institution decides to "raise prices" they do not declare that they are "saving money".

But I guess government is just different ...

It's kind of like when Obama decides to spend money on unions and says he is "investing".

[heartwood]

The average cost to Tricare for a year’s worth of a brand name medication at retail is $1156 versus $840 through mail order. If generic drugs are substituted, the average falls to $200 a year, whether the drug is dispensed at retail, through mail order or base pharmacies.

The government not raising prices - it is not the one producing the drugs - it is transferring some of the costs to the consumers, thereby saving money for the rest of the taxpayers. The real net savings to consumer and taxpayer will come when people decide they don't want to spend co-pays of $136 a year for a drug that costs the taxpayers another $700, and ask their doctors for a generic for which they'll pay $36 and the taxpayers another $164.

I wish I could get brand-name drugs for $136 a year - that's what I pay for one of my generics, and generics is all I can afford.