OK. it's Fox News, but they are reporting:
The pharmaceutical industry agreed Saturday to spend $80 billion over the next decade improving drug benefits for seniors on Medicare and defraying the cost of President Barack Obama's health care legislation.
Admittedly, the scope of the agreement is very minimal, only covering the gap for "doughnut-hole" seniors on Medicare Rx coverage.
While none of the changes in the prescription drug program would directly lower government costs, the industry also agreed to additional measures that would give the Treasury more money under federal health programs. ...
Those funds would be used to help pay for legislation expanding health insurance for millions who now lack it.
One official said the deal was agreed to late Friday night when Billy Tauzin ... called Baucus. It was not clear what impact, if any, the agreement would have on other health care providers who are in negotiations with Baucus.
I don't know about you, but I am skeptical of anything involving negotiations with Baucus.
drug companies would pay as much as half of the cost of brand-name drugs for lower and middle-income seniors in the so-called doughnut hole.
In particular, officials said drug companies would likely wind up paying pay higher rebates for certain drugs under Medicaid, the program that provides health care for the poor.
But at a minimum, the agreement serves as an effective counter to impression that the drive to enact health care legislation was sputtering.
Is it sputtering? I don't know. But if Baucus is still in charge, call me leery. See nyceve's rec listed diary to see why I've got a lot of company.