BLUMENTHAL & DELAURO INTRODUCE PRESCRIPTION DRUG IMPORTATION ACT TO HELP LOWER SKYROCKETING COST

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) joined a bicameral coalition today introducing legislation to lower the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs by allowing Americans to import safe, low-cost medicine from Canada. U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Bob Casey (D-PA) led the introduction of the bill in the Senate, while U.S. Representatives Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD) and Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) introduced a companion bill in the House of Representatives.

“Americans are being crushed by skyrocketing prescription drug costs. Outrageous prices force many patients to split pills, skip doses, or simply not fill their prescriptions at all. Yet right across the border in Canada, many of these same prescription drugs are available at a much lower cost,” Blumenthal said. “That is why I am joining Senators Bernie Sanders, Cory Booker, and Bob Casey in introducing a bill to allow Americans to import safe, low-cost medicine from our neighbors to the north. If President Trump plans on actually keeping his promise to lower drug prices, he will support our efforts and urge Republicans in Congress to do the same.”

“At a time when the costs of prescription drugs are skyrocketing and pharmaceutical corporations are reaping record profits, it is more critical than ever that we encourage competition in the marketplace. The Affordable and Safe Prescription Drug Importation Act will do just that, and it is an essential piece of legislation in ensuring that Americans have access to safe, effective, and affordable prescription drugs,” said DeLauro. “There is no reason why countries such as Canada should have access to these drugs while American families struggle to make ends meet and afford lifesaving care. Congress should take up this legislation immediately and send it to the President to be signed into law.”

The measure would authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services in two years to allow importation from other advanced countries.

In Canada and other major countries, the same medications, manufactured by the same companies are available for a fraction of the price compared to the United States. In 2014, Americans spent $1,112 per person on prescription drugs while Canadians spent $772 and Danes spent $325.

While five major drug manufacturers made more than $50 billion in profits in 2015, nearly 1 in 3 Americans could not afford the medicine they were prescribed at some point in their lives.

The legislation, the Affordable and Safe Prescription Drug Importation Act, introduced today in the Senate and House, would instruct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to put forward regulations allowing wholesalers, pharmacies and individuals to import qualifying prescription drugs from licensed Canadian sellers. After two years, the Secretary would have the authority to permit importation from countries in the Organizations for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) with standards for the approval and sale of prescription drugs that are comparable to those in the United States.

The bill includes detailed provisions outlining safeguards and consumer protections that ensure the safety of imported drugs, including FDA certification of foreign sellers, a clear definition of what drugs may be imported and supply chain security requirements.

Legally imported drugs under the bill must be purchased from an FDA-certified foreign seller and must have the same active ingredient, route of administration and strength as drugs approved in the United States. The legislation also cracks down on rogue online pharmacies.

Allowing the importation of safe and affordable prescription drugs is overwhelmingly supported by the American people with 71 percent in favor of allowing Americans to buy prescription drugs from Canada.

The legislation is also co-sponsored in the Senate by U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Maria Cantwell (D-WA) Angus King (I-ME), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Jack Reed (D-RI), Al Franken (D-MN), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Tom Udall (D-NM), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).

The legislation is also co-sponsored in the House by U.S. Representatives Gwen Moore (D-WI), Robert Brady (D-PA), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Peter Welch (D-VT), Ed Blumenauer (D-OR), Mark Pocan (D-WI) and Jim Langevin (D-RI).

Organizations supporting the bill include: Alliance for Retired Americans, American Federation of Teachers, Center for Medicare Advocacy, CREDO, DailyKos, Economic Policy Institute, Justice in Aging, MoveOn, NAACP, National Center for Health Research, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, National Organization for Women, PharmacyChecker.com, Prescription Justice, Progressive Change Campaign Committee, RxRights and Social Security Works.