Trump Administration Proposal Would Let US Import Cheaper Prescription Drugs

In hopes of making medication more affordable, President Donald Trump wants to import prescription drugs from other countries.The idea isn’t new, in fact Wisconsin and a number of other states tried it 15 years ago.

Back then, the federal government didn’t approve of state efforts to give citizens access to cheaper drugs, citing safety concerns.

Now under the Trump administration proposal, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services would grant demonstration waivers to states, along with pharmacies and wholesalers, to import Canadian drugs. Those drugs would have to comply with U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations.

Congress would have to approve any plan put forward and AARP hopes they will.

“Having the administration take the lead really is a signal to Congress that there’s an importance to this and this is a very deliberate effort to put a dent in prescription drug prices,” said Sam Wilson, state director for AARP Wisconsin.

Officials with the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin said they are reviewing the importation plan released by HHS on Wednesday.

“Pharmacists are an integral part of the health care team and we remain committed to ensuring that patient interaction with their pharmacist is not inhibited by fragmentation of care and ensuring that patients, pharmacists and prescribers can verify the quality, efficacy and safety of their drugs. Any exploration of importation must protect the public’s health and confidence in the quality and safety of their medications and protect patients’ health outcomes,” the society said in a statement.

Congressional and state efforts to import prescription drugs go back as far as 30 years, Wilson said.

In 2004, Wisconsin joined an effort led by Illinois to connect customers to cheaper drugs sold in other countries through the online program called I-Save Rx. Wisconsin also launched its own website that linked users directly to mail-order pharmacies in Canada.

Such state-run drug import programs never really took off, in part because Congress expanded Medicare benefits to include prescription drug coverage. In Wisconsin there’s also a prescription drug assistance program called Senior Care.