The voting public seems to be at odds with seniors’ views of prescription drug benefit reform, studies indicate. While two studies show the general public’s dissatisfaction with an anticipated change to the Medicare drug benefit, another reveals that seniors look forward to the reform.

The Democratic-controlled Congress would like to change the Medicare prescription drug law to allow the government to negotiate Part D prices directly with drug companies. Voters, however, are concerned such changes will affect access to drugs and pharmacy choices, say two pre- and post-election polls conducted by Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates Inc. of Washington.

In contrast, nearly 70% of seniors favor changes to Medicare law to allow the government to negotiate lower prices, according to a separate survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation released Dec. 19. Still, the majority of seniors surveyed by Kaiser also believe that only minor changes are needed to improve the Part D program.