AARP's drug benefit plan

After rejecting three plans for adding an outpatient drug benefit to Medicare, the Senate will consider a fourth variation this week. The new bill, crafted by Sens. Bob Graham (D-Fla.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.), is being supported by the AARP, the largest advocacy group for American senior citizens.

Like a bill backed by Graham and Sens. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Zell Miller (D-Ga.) that was defeated by the Senate last week, the Graham-Smith plan relies on the government to deliver a drug benefit. But the scope of the benefit, and the cost of the program, are smaller than the Kennedy-Graham-Miller approach...