<p style="margin-left: 0in;">The Department of Health and Human Services announced on Tuesday that more than 8.2 million Medicare beneficiaries have saved over $11.5 billion on prescription drugs since the enactment of the Affordable Care Act in 2010, as a result of discounts in the donut hole and rebates. </p>
<p style="margin-left: 0in;">This news follows the release on Monday of the annual Medicare trustees’ report, which showed continued low levels of growth in Medicare spending. According to the report, the program’s main trust fund has been extended to 2030, up from its projection of 2017 in 2009, and Part B premiums are expected to stay the same rather than increase for the second year in a row.</p>
<p style="margin-left: 0in;">Additionally, a new HHS report found that per capita, Medicare spending growth has averaged two percent over 2009–2012, and barely grew in 2013.</p>
<p style="margin-left: 0in;">For state-by-state information on discounts on the donut hole, visit the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) <a href="http://downloads.cms.gov/files/Medicare-Part-D-Donut-Hole-Savings-Summary-2010-June-2014.pdf">website</a>.</p>
