 In 1965, Congress enacted two programs: Medicaid to help the poor, and Medicare to help the elderly - but while Medicaid covered drugs, Medicare did not. Beginning in the mid-1980s, politicians began to argue that consumers needed help, but the federal government passed no laws that did help. As debate continues over Medicare prescription drug benefits, FRONTLINE investigates the conflict between pharmaceutical companies and American consumers fed up with paying the highest drug prices in the world. Interviews with legislators, scientists, consumers, and industry leaders reveal how states like Maine (with its program Maine Rx) and Oregon moved to control escalating drug costs in the face of strong opposition from the pharmaceutical industry, which argues that price reductions will only reduce the number of new innovative drugs. The program also explores the tension between the high cost of scientific innovation and society s need to keep drugs and health care affordable.