Salinas, CA New Patent Law Could Cost Medicare More Than $1 Billion

A new patent law which the drug industry is trying to get passed could cost Medicare a whopping $1.3 billion over the next decade by delaying medications from going generic, according to the Congressional Budget Office.  Pharmaceutical trade groups are asking Congress to exempt drug patents from being challenged through an administrative process that is cheaper and faster than the federal courts. The procedure has become popular with generic-drug companies looking to sell copies of brand-name drugs.  However, the potential for such an exemption to increase drug spending has intensified opposition from some lawmakers, health insurers, and consumer advocates alarmed by rising drug costs.