PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 663 - 29 Sep 2012

■ Head of the Pharmaceutical Research andManufacturers of America (PhRMA), John Castellani,has proposed expanding components of MedicarePart D to other parts of Medicare, such as MedicarePart B – a move which may help the pharmaceuticalindustry avoid reduced Medicare payments next year.Castellani says that Part D works "very well", and "thechallenge is to look at whether or not what we’velearned in Part D can be applied in other parts".Spending on Medicare (which should reach more than$US590 billion in 2012) is a major issue for thePresidential campaign and is a target for plans to cutthe federal deficit and national debt.Morgan D. Pharma group urges broader U.S. market approach to Medicare.Reuters [online] : 20 Sep 2012. Available from: URL: http://www.reuters.com 803077885

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PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 29 Sep 2012 No. 6631173-5503/10/0663-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved