As We See It: Yes to Importation
By: Source: AARP Bulletin Today Date Posted: 2004-06-17 11:17:00-04:00
Too many people who need prescription drugs still can't afford them. The Medicare Modernization Act is an important foundation, but much more needs to be done. Our research shows that the costs of brand-name prescription drugs used most by people 50-plus rose at nearly three times the rate of inflation in 2003. That is why AARP is supporting S. 2328, a new bipartisan bill sponsored by Sens. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., and Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, and 22 cosponsors, that would legalize the safe importation of prescription drugs, beginning with Canada.
Other senators who have signed on to this bill include Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., John McCain, R-Ariz., Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., and Trent Lott, R-Miss.
It is no longer a question of whether we should allow the importation of drugs from abroad. It's already happening. Millions of Americans are buying drugs from other countries. We need to legalize this and, above all, make sure that a system is in place to guarantee safety. And that's what the Dorgan-Snowe bill does.
It includes important safety standards that AARP advocates. It will strengthen the safety of America's drug supply from abroad and give the Food and Drug Administration the authority and resources it needs to do the job.
The bill also seeks to prevent the pharmaceutical industry from limiting supplies of drugs to countries and companies willing to export lower-cost pharmaceuticals to the United States. It would do no good to legalize importation if the drug companies could just choke off the supply.
We believe this bill meets the challenges of designing a prescription drug importation program that protects the integrity of pharmaceuticals and provides a streamlined process that enables consumers to get lower-cost prescription drugs. We will work aggressively for its passage this year.
Importation is only one part of the answer to high drug costs. It is not a panacea. So we're continuing to attack this problem on all fronts. We recently published our first AARP Rx Watchdog Report that tracks the costs of prescription drugs and keeps a spotlight on industry pricing practices.
We're also working to help people understand and sign up for the Medicare drug discount card, protect retiree health benefits and help state governments maintain their drug assistance programs.
Our members need affordable prescription drugs now. And passing the Dorgan-Snowe bill brings us one step closer to that goal. You can help by contacting your U.S. senators and asking them to support and vote for this bill.
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