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Five bipartisan fixes for US debt crisis

Whether in the coming weeks or later, the US s going to have to grapple with its long-term debt challenge. We at the Bipartisan Policy Center suggest these five solutions – stemming from the work of prominent leaders, Republicans and Democrats – to address US debt.

5. Encourage use of low-cost generic drugs

Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage provides generous help to low-income beneficiaries, but generic drug use is lower in this population than it is for higher-income beneficiaries. Stronger incentives for beneficiaries to choose low-cost generics and for insurance plans to offer them would generate substantial savings for both taxpayers and patients.

Shai Akabas is a senior policy analyst for the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Economic Policy Project. He staffed the center's Domenici-Rivlin Debt Reduction Task Force in 2010 and assisted visiting scholar Jerome Powell in his work on the federal debt ceiling in 2011.

Brian Collins is a policy analyst with BPC’s Economic Policy Project. He staffed BPC’s Healthcare Cost Containment Initiative in 2013.

Readers: Are you working with others who don’t share your views in order to solve a problem in your community or beyond? E-mail us about it at commonground@csmonitor.com.

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Mark Sappenfield
Editor

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