Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Angus King (I-Maine) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) sent a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) encouraging the agency to support policies that will allow Americans to personally import certain prescription drugs from Canada. This bipartisan letter follows the Administration’s recent actions which recognized that prescription drug prices can be lowered through the safe importation of less expensive drugs from Canada.
“Americans, on average, pay the highest prescription drug prices in the world and are struggling to afford the medications they need. Last year, one in three Americans saw their out-of-pocket medication costs increase, and that has real consequences. Nearly 30 percent of adults report not taking their medicines as prescribed because of the cost,” the senators wrote.
“Americans should be able to obtain affordable medications, and expanding access to safe and affordable drugs in Canada can make a difference by providing direct relief to the millions of Americans who are struggling to afford the increasing cost of prescription drugs.”
In February, the senators introduced the Safe and Affordable Drugs from Canada Act to permit personal importation of certain safe and effective prescription drugs from approved Canadian pharmacies. In the letter, the senators urged HHS to back their legislation that will create savings for consumers and bring greater competition into the pharmaceutical market.
Full text of the letter can be found HERE.
