11.   Both proposals reflected growing concern about drug costs in the United States, which tend to be higher than in countries that have government price controls.

12.   A health plan typically hires a drug management company that controls drug costs by negotiating discounts with drug manufacturers.

13.   A number of states are considering other methods of reducing drug costs, including filing lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies to challenge their pricing practices.

14.   Against the backdrop of rising drug costs, managed care companies are fighting back with a variety of tactics, including one pioneered by Avorn.

15.   Almost all companies are shifting more drug costs to employees.

16.   Bush also would give states more money to help them cover prescription drug costs for low-income senior citizens.

17.   Buffetted by ballooning prescription drug costs and other expenses, dozens of large insurers have plunged into the red.

18.   Bush and legislative budget writers have blamed rising drug costs in the Medicaid program and other unforeseen factors.

19.   But Corry notes it will be up to each company to decide whether the incentives outweigh the long-term impact of rising health care and prescription drug costs.

20.   But like the program in Pennsylvania, many are struggling with rising prescription drug costs and tight eligibility requirements that are excluding many older residents.