51.   He boasts that his proposal would help pay drug costs from the first dollar of the first prescription.

52.   He said the drug companies had too much power over drug costs.

53.   Health plans are also more receptive to solicitations to physicians under growing pressure to put a lid on spiraling drug costs.

54.   High drug costs are an issue nationally, especially for uninsured seniors, low-income families and others who cannot afford their prescription medicines.

55.   Hospitals are also starting to feel the increase in drug costs.

56.   House Republicans are fleshing out their proposal, under which the government would subsidize private insurance to help pay drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries.

57.   House Republicans said that their proposal would use private insurance subsidized by the government to help pay the drug costs for millions of people who are elderly or disabled.

58.   However, the federal government does not require Medicare to safeguard seniors by covering drug prescription costs.

59.   If the government created a Medicare drug benefit, it would become acutely concerned about drug costs.

60.   In addition, drug costs continue to rise precipitously.