Maybe I read the article too fast, or maybe I just missed something, but I did not see the MSA's referenced. Could you post the reference if you have a chance?
I think this is what Boortz was saying about the reforms: "Democrats wanted to filibuster this bill – not because they opposed the drug benefit, but because there were some weak-as-a-kitten proposals for private-sector competition in a limited number of cities about seven years from now."
It does not mention MSAs specifically, but it does fit in with someone's earlier comment that they thought the MSAs were to take effect in 2010.