Medicare experiment could put more pressure on insurers to save money on prescription drugs

The federal government is giving health insurance companies that run Medicare prescription drug plans new tools it hopes will save money for patients.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced a voluntary program Friday that will allow Medicare Part D plans, which share the cost of prescription drug insurance with the federal government, to keep more of the savings they negotiate — with the caveat that if they don’t save enough money, they have to pay the government back for it.