Drugs: Cut Rate for Medicare

For four years, New Jersey's Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. has provided free drugs for any private patient whose doctor certifies that he cannot afford them. Last week Roche announced an other generous move that may put a welcome dent in the huge drug bill that the Federal Government expects to pay for Medicare patients. Heeding President Johnson's "plea to prevent spiraling costs," Roche slashed by 25% the price of all drugs that it sells to hospitals for treating Medicare patients.