Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Florida’s prescription import plan gets major boost from Trump
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ plan to import lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada got a boost Wednesday from the president.
The Trump administration signaled it was open to approving Florida’s plan aimed at lowering the cost of medication, but the program still must undergo a federal review that could take months if not years.
Florida’s newest Republican governor made Canadian drugs a key part of his health care agenda on the campaign trail, and state lawmakers earlier this year authorized the creation of a prescription drug importation program at his urging.
DeSantis signed the bill into law in June at The Villages, a retirement haven home to more than 50,000 seniors near the politically vital I-4 corridor.
But there is a hitch — the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has to approve state importation programs. Until now, the federal agency hadn’t embraced importing drugs from Canada or overseas. No state has succeeded in
getting an importation program approved.
The agency announced Wednesday it is now open to the idea. Health and Human Services would need to finalize the new regulation before it can start evaluating applications, which have not yet been submitted by the states that have approved importation programs, an agency spokeswoman said.
One aspect of the Trump administration’s proposal would allow states, wholesalers and pharmacists to import certain medications that are also available in the United States. Another part of the plan would allow drug-makers to seek approval for re-importation of their own drugs.
DeSantis had lobbied President Donald Trump to embrace his plan. The two are political allies, and DeSantis touted an endorsement from Trump when running for office last year.
“The governor did his part, and the president came through on his commitment,” said Helen Ferre, a DeSantis spokeswoman.
Trump gave a social media shout out to DeSantis, referencing the governor’s Twitter handle and saying “Lowering drug prices for many Americans — including our great seniors!”
But consumers won’t see cheaper drugs prices overnight because state importation plans still have to make their way through the federal bureaucracy, said Trish Riley, executive director of the National Academy for State Health Policy.
“The bad news is the federal rule-making process can sometimes take several years,” said Riley, whose organization assisted Florida on its importation program. “Unless it’s changed, it could delay the approval of the Florida plan.”
The announcement, though, is significant because it comes after “considerable resistance” from Health and Human Services to state drug importation programs, she said.
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar dismissed the idea as a “gimmick” in May 2018.
“They are a lovely neighbor to the north, but they’re a small one,” Azar, a former drug company executive, had said. “Canada simply doesn’t have enough drugs to sell them to us for less money, and drug companies won’t sell Canada or Europe more just to have them imported here.”
In a statement released Wednesday, Azar expressed a willingness to consider such programs, calling it the “next important step the administration is taking to address foreign freeloading and lower the cost of drugs for Americans.”
Florida’s proposed program has two components. One would import Canadian drugs to state-funded entities, such as the Medicaid program, prison system and mental health treatment facilities. A broader international program would be targeted at lowering drug costs for consumers.
The state is working on the plans it will submit to the federal government for approval, said Patrick Manderfield, a spokesman for the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration. He said it’s too early to say how long the process could take.
DeSantis thanked Trump in a statement released by his office.
“Americans spend significantly more on prescription drugs than anywhere else in the world and my administration is working to make a difference,” he said. “I remain committed to finding innovative ways to improve the quality of life for Florida residents, including ways to further empower patients and keeping the cost of healthcare as low as possible.”
Politicians on both sides of the aisle are looking for answers to the United States’ high drug costs. Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders visited a Canadian pharmacy on Sunday to highlight the lower cost of drugs there.
The United States spent $1,162 per person on drugs in 2015, compared with $756 for Canada, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Unlike the United States, the Canadian government imposes price controls on prescription drugs.
The pharmaceutical industry fought Florida’s importation plan, blitzing the airwaves with ads opposing the bill. In a statement, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America called DeSantis’ plan a “reckless policy” that could have a “devastating impact on patient safety” by introducing counterfeit drugs into the market.
Vermont, Colorado and Maine have also passed legislation creating importation programs, Riley said.