Just before recessing, the Senate took up but was unable to pass any of several plans to create a prescription drug benefit in the Medicare program, an issue of interest to those eligible to draw Medicare benefits who also carry Federal Employees Health Benefits program coverage, which includes prescription drug coverage. The Senate came closest to passing (as an amendment to S-812, a generic drugs bill) a plan that would have provided coverage only to certain low-income Medicare beneficiaries. The Senate’s failure to pass any plan might mean the death of a Medicare prescription drug effort for this year, although the issue also could arise after Congress returns from its recess. The House earlier passed a plan that would create limited Medicare prescription drug coverage estimated to cost about $34 a month to begin. Federal employee and retiree groups have been tracking the issue out of concern that FEHB-covered Medicare eligibles could be forced to essentially pay twice for the same coverage if the any Medicare prescription drug coverage became mandatory.