Mass. pursues bulk purchasing to lower Rx drug benefit costs.(Massachusetts)

Massachusetts officials have a new plan for tackling rising prescription drug costs: bulk purchasing. The state intends to secure lower prices from drug companies by pooling drug benefit programs for some 910,000 people, including state employees, retirees and Medicaid recipients.

"We have nothing to lose by trying this. If we can save money, it will help all taxpayers," observes Dick Powers, spokesman for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services.

Like most states, Massachusetts has watched its Rx drug bills climb each year. The state