HEALTH CARE
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
Biotech Provisions Dropped from Health Reform Bill: House Majority Leader Rep. Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.) has dropped a 15% Medicare rebate requirement for biotechnology companies from his health care reform bill, industry and congressional sources said. Gephardt has also scrapped a commission that would review drug prices to be used in the Medicare program, according to Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.). The biotech industry has strongly opposed the price commission and the rebate as price controls that would reduce capital investment in the industry and inhibit research.
