Asked of one-half of total respondents (n = 696)

Do you favor or oppose Congress changing the law to allow the federal government to use its buying power to negotiate with drug companies to try to get a lower price for prescription drugs for people on Medicare?

            Favor    OpposeDon’t know       Refused

            80         13         7          *

Asked of one-half of total respondents (n = 696)

I’m going to read you a list of things some people have said about allowing the federal government to use its buying power to negotiate with drug companies to try to get a lower price for prescription drugs for people on Medicare, and I’d like you to tell me whether you agree or disagree with each of these statements.  Some people say that allowing the federal government to negotiate with drug companies for lower prices (INSERT).  Do you agree or disagree?

Will mean government price controls on prescription drugs

            Agree   Disagree           Don’t know       Refused

            54         40         6          --

Will lead U.S. drug companies to do less research and development

            Agree   Disagree           Don’t know       Refused

            29         64         7          *

Will make medicines more affordable for people on Medicare

            Agree   Disagree           Don’t know       Refused

            77         16         7          *

Makes sense because the government already negotiates lower prices for the Defense Department and Veterans Administration

            Agree   Disagree           Don’t know       Refused

            67         25         8          *

Survey by Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard School of Public Health. Methodology: ICR/International Communications Research between November 4 and November 28, 2004, among a nationally representative sample of 1,396 respondents ages 18 and over.