States look to lower drug costs, consider Canadian imports

MONTPELIER, VT. )) Lawmakers in more than two-thirds of the states are considering ways to reduce prescrip-tion drug costs, including importing them from Canada, as they strive to balance budgets without knowing for sure what their government's share of the tab will be.

A total of 87 bills in 34 states of all political stripes seek to save money on prescription drugs, according to the nonpartisan National Academy for State Health Policy. Six of those states are considering bills that would allow drugs to be imported from Canada, where they cost an average 30 percent less than in the United States.

One is liberal Vermont, what law-makers have revived a nearly 2-decade old proposal. Conservative Utah is con-sidering a similar proposal. Maryland is looking at creating a commission that would regulate drug costs.

It's hoped that importing drugs can put downward pressure on domestic costs for all, said Utah Rep. Norm 'Thur-ston. who introduced a drug-import bill.