include in the 'grand deficit reduction deal' the requirement that Medicare negotiate the cost of drugs like the VA.

The VA annually saves hundreds of millions of dollars by negotiating the cost of drugs. Medicare is currently restricted from negotiating the cost of the drugs the public pays for - taxpayers are paying whatever cost the pharmaceuticals demand.
A simple way for Medicare to annually save hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars and indirectly reduce the cost of the deficit would be to allow Medicare to negotiate the cost of drugs that same as the VA.
During candidate Romney's visit to Israel, he offered high praise of their Israel,s health system - their quality of service and the low per capita cost. Some of their lower costs were the result of Israel,s negotiating the cost of drugs. Most countries of the world negotiate the cost of drugs for their citizens - we needs to do the same!