Medicare Prescription Drug Cost Containment Act of 2005

H.R. 918, the Medicare Prescription Drug Cost Containment Act of 2005, proposes a mechanism to monitor and limit federal spending on the Medicare Part D prescription drug program. The bill would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue a formal "funding warning" if the program’s costs are projected to exceed a specific threshold of general tax revenue.

If such a warning is triggered, the President would be required to submit a legislative proposal to Congress designed to reduce spending and bring the program back within its funding limits. For citizens, this bill could lead to future changes in Medicare Part D benefits, eligibility, or cost-sharing structures as the government seeks to control the program's impact on the federal budget.