Dems seek Medicare rebates

Democrats in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives introduced legislation Thursday that would require drug companies to pay rebates on Medicare Part D drug sales to low-income patients who are eligible for Medicaid. The Medicare Drug Savings Act of 2011 (H.R. 2190) would reduce the deficit by $112 billion over the next 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. There are no Republican co-sponsors and the legislation is unlikely to pass the Republican-controlled House. In the House, the bill is co-sponsored by Reps. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), John Dingell (D-Mich.), Sander Levin (D-Mich.), George Miller (D-Calif.), Pete Stark (D-Calif.) and Robert Andrews (D-N.J.). The legislation could pass the Democrat-controlled Senate, where it is co-sponsored by Sens. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.). ...