GRASSLEY DECIDING ON FILIBUSTER OPTION IN DIRECT NEGOTIATION DISPUTE

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), one of the most vocal opponents of government negotiation of Medicare costs, is considering using a filibuster to stop bipartisan direct negotiation legislation because he believes that its proponents may now have the votes to pass it.

Grassley plans to inform his colleagues about the drawbacks of government negotiation in order to gain their support and work with Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) before resorting to a filibuster, the lawmaker said at a Jan. 10 press conference. But Grassley said he believes he likely has the votes for a filibuster. To defeat such a move, the bill's proponents would need 60 votes.

The filibuster option may ultimately be necessary to stop the bill. The legislation, sponsored by Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), fell only one vote short of passage in 2005. But now the numbers in the Senate have changed.

The vote "was very close," Grassley said. Since that time Republicans lost five seats in the Senate. "We could be in a worse position" than in 2005, he added.

The bill mandates that the HHS secretary negotiate with drug manufacturers when there is only one brand version of a drug available and the drug was created using "substantial taxpayer funding" for its R&D. The agency must also negotiate when a private insurance plan requests the government's help and in order to address any Medicare coverage gaps.