Deal 'close' on prescription-drug bill

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Republicans last night said they're closing in on a final Medicare prescription-drug bill, and one important senator said House conservatives would get some version of all the key provisions they want.

Sen. Orrin G. Hatch, Utah Republican and Medicare bill negotiator, emerged from talks predicting the bill would be finalized today.

Democratic negotiators were more cautious.

"I think we're close," said Sen. John B. Breaux, Louisiana Democrat as he left the talks. He said there are "still some substantive issues we have to resolve."

Democratic negotiator Sen. Max Baucus of Montana said "it's getting there," when asked if he could sign off on the bill as it is now.

The majority of the bill is agreed to, but several key issues have been holding it up.

Republican negotiators have pushed to include three provisions key to winning House conservatives' support: requiring Medicare at some point to compete directly against private health plans, providing some sort of mechanism aimed at holding down Medicare costs if they get too high, and creating tax-preferred health savings accounts that encourage people to save for their medical costs.

Senate Democrats oppose all three, saying the provisions, especially direct competition, are designed to ruin Medicare. Mr. Breaux earlier yesterday said he has told negotiators, "There's no way [the Senate] could accept all three of them."