Posted on 01/21/2004 8:52:25 PM PST by calcowgirl
SACRAMENTO (AP) - California could save as much as $30 million US by buying drugs for state prisons from Canada, a policy prohibited by U.S. law, under legislation to be introduced Thursday by a state senator.
Senate President Pro Tempore John Burton said Wednesday that his legislation will allow the state Department of General Services to turn to Canada when seeking the best price on pharmaceuticals. The department buys drugs for the California prison system and youth authority. Prescription drugs in Canada cost less due to a combination of price controls and a favourable exchange rate.
The U.S. Medicare Prescription Drug Act, signed by President George W. Bush, lets pharmacists and wholesalers import drugs from Canada - but only with the approval of the secretary of Health and Human Services.
Burton said his legislation "runs afoul of federal law but you can always get a waiver. I assume the governor could get a waiver."
So far, U.S. Health Secretary Tommy Thompson and the Food and Drug Administration have not approved any exemptions, saying importing Canadian drugs risks consumers' health.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's office didn't immediately return a call seeking comment.
Burton declined to give more details of his plan, which he said will be announced at a news conference Thursday. An aide to the senator said by buying the five most commonly purchased prescription drugs from Canada, the state could save as much as $30 million a year.
The cities of Springfield, Mass. and Montgomery, Ala. are buying lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada. Several other cities and some states are considering it, including the states of Washington and Connecticut.
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