Democrats reopen debate on Medicare Part D

The Democrats opened a new salvo in the battle over the Medicare drug benefit with the introduction of the Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act of 2007. The bill, which passed the House mostly along party lines, mandates that the Secretary of the Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) negotiate directly with drug companies over drug prices charged to prescription drug plans (PDPs). Still, the bill's future and how it will impact pharmacy remains unclear.