Health Care, Prescription Drug | featured news

Total U.S. spending on prescription medicines declined last year, a first in more than half a century. The dip was 1 percent, to $325.8 billion — a 3.5 percent drop after accounting for population growth and economic expansion, according to the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics.

Here's one program candidates aren't likely to mess with: The Medicare prescription drug plan. A new poll sponsored by a health care group shows that 90% of seniors are satisfied with the program known as Medicare Part D, and approval has constantly risen since the plan came on line in 2006.

Changes are designed to aid Medicare prescription drug recipients, offer seniors more preventive care and limit insurance firms' profit margins.

The Obama White House cannot explain more than half of today's announced $80 billion in prescription drug savings.