CBO report examines proposed changes to prescription drug user fee act

Cost Estimate: S 1082, Prescription Drug User Fee Amendments of 2007," Congressional Budget Office: The CBO report details proposed changes to the Prescription Drug User Fee Act and outlines spending and costs to federal and state governments.

CBO estimates that the bill ( S 1082) would reduce net discretionary spending by $157 million in 2008 but that gross spending in future years would exceed the amount of money collected by user fees because some spending would not be offset by the fees. The report estimates that implementing the legislation would cost $547 million from 2008 through 2012 (CBO, "Cost Estimate: S. 1082, Prescription Drug User Fee Amendments of 2007," 4/27).