Failure to Hold Vote on Reimportation Means Higher Drug Costs For Seniors

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Failure to Hold Vote on Reimportation Means Higher Drug Costs For Seniors

Alexandria, VA (October 21, 2004) - The Senate's failure to vote on a widely-supported bipartisan prescription drug reimportation bill means U.S. seniors will continue to pay drug costs that are two to four times higher than in other countries, says a national seniors issue advocacy organization. "It appears that the leadership of the Senate does not have the political will to stand up to the drug companies in order to give seniors, state and local governments, and other prescription drug consumers this desperately needed relief from high U.S. drug costs," observes George Smith, Chairman of TREA Senior Citizens League (TSCL).

A reimportation bill (S. 2328) sponsored by Senators Byron Dorgan (ND) and Olympia Snowe (ME) was endorsed earlier this year by TSCL and widely supported by other organizations. The bill has broad support in the Senate as well and it is believed by some that there are as many as 75 votes in favor of the legislation.[1] It would allow reimportation of prescription drugs from Canada, and after one year from Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland or European Union nations where drug costs are often much less because the government health care systems negotiate lower prices. Under the bill, pharmacists and wholesalers would pay fees to fund the cost of additional federal inspectors, and ensure the safety of the medications from manufacturer to consumer. What makes the bill different from other reimportation bills in the Senate are provisions that would prevent drug companies from taking actions to thwart reimportation, such as restricting drug supplies or raising prices.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (TN), an opponent of reimportation, has said he remains concerned about the safety of drug imports.[2] Advocates, including TSCL, however, point out that there's little evidence of such risk. "According to the Manitoba International Pharmacists, one million U.S. consumers are buying their prescription medications from Canadian pharmacies. There have been no reported deaths from these drugs," Smith observes. "Furthermore, there's a far more genuine health risk for seniors who don't fill their prescriptions because they can't afford their medications," Smith points out.

Recently the governors of Illinois and Wisconsin launched the first state-sponsored program to help residents buy less costly prescription drugs from both Europe and Canada despite federal laws prohibiting prescription drug reimportation.[3] The state of Illinois sent teams to Europe to study the safety and feasibility of importing prescription drugs from the United Kingdom and Ireland as well as Canada.

A TSCL survey early this year found that more than two-thirds of all seniors who responded favor allowing the reimportation of FDA-approved drugs from Canada.[4] "TSCL supports these state efforts to set up pilot programs to demonstrate how prescription drugs can be imported safely and can save both governments and residents millions," observes Smith.

"The disparity between drug prices in nations like Canada and the United States is significant." Smith observes. "With a record Medicare premium increase in 2005 and other health care costs continuing to climb, TSCL remains highly concerned that increasing numbers of seniors simply won't be able to afford their medications without access to less costly drugs," he explains. "We urge seniors and other drug consumers to carefully check how their Senators view reimportation as one of the deciding factors in making their choice when it comes to the November elections, " Smith advises.

TSCL is a national group of politically active seniors concerned about the protection of their earned Social Security, Medicare, military, and other retirement benefits. TSCL members participate in a number of grassroots lobbying and public education campaigns designed to ensure governmental bodies, including the Social Security Administration and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, live up to their commitments.

For more free information on this issue and our organization, please contact TREA Senior Citizens League, Department S607T, 909 N. Washington St., Suite 300, Alexandria, VA 22314, or visit our website at: www.tscl.org.

[1] Senators Urge Frist to Call for Vote on Legislation to Allow Reimportation of Prescription Drugs, Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, September 21, 2004. [2] Frist: Drug Import Vote Won't Happen Soon, The Associated Press, September 8, 2004. [3] Illinois, Wisconsin To Sponsor Prescription Drug Imports, The Associated Press, October 4, 2004. [4] Senior Citizens Survey on New Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage, #TS412H, TS412P. Distributed by The Senior Exchange, Inc. Serving The Mature American With Timely, Low-Cost, Self-Help Information

October 2004