House Approves Medicare Changes

WASHINGTON (AP) – House Democrats have pushed through legislation that would empower Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices and offer new benefits for seniors. Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s bill would also provide new dental, vision and hearing benefits for Medicare recipients. But the legislation has no chance of passing the Republican-controlled Senate, and the White House has issued a veto threat. Still, Democrats see a a political victory in the message their bill sends to voters. Republicans say they don’t believe government should set prices for medicines. When Donald Trump was a candidate, he promised that Medicare would “negotiate like crazy.” He’s since backed off.