Governor Jim Douglas says he hopes the federal government will still approve a plan to reduce prescription drug prices. The program seeks to reduce Vermont’s and Michigan’s prescription drug costs for state employees by jointly negotiating prices.
Douglas worked out the plan with Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, who said earlier this week that the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services had rejected it. But Douglas says U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson tells him that the project still might win approval. Douglas says he’s not giving up on the plan.