XPost: alt.politics.rush-limbaugh, soc.retirement, alt.politics   
   XPost: talk.politics.misc, can.politics   
   From: george.core@yahoo.com   
      
   Senate panel backs giving Florida access to Canadian drugs   
      
   By CURT ANDERSON Associated Press   
      
   March 25, 2019 02:04 PM,   
      
   Updated March 25, 2019 02:05 PM   
   TALLAHASSEE, Fla.   
      
   Floridians could gain access to cheaper prescription drugs from Canada if   
   the federal government agrees under legislation approved Monday by a state   
   Senate committee.   
      
   The Senate Health Policy Committee voted 8-2 Monday for one of Republican   
   Gov. Ron DeSantis' top priorities in the 60-day legislative session. A   
   companion measure with several key differences is moving through House   
   committees that would eventually need to be reconciled with the Senate   
   version.   
      
   The Senate bill's sponsor, Republican Sen. Aaron Bean of Jacksonville, said   
   the Canadian drug import program if adopted would be submitted for approval   
   to the federal Health and Human Services Department. If approved there in   
   an estimated six months to a year, the plan would come back to Florida   
   lawmakers for a final decision.   
      
   "The price of health care is a major concern. It's a major concern of   
   Floridians. They are not just making that up," Bean said. "''There's a   
   significant potential for savings."   
      
      
   The U.S. has one of the costliest health care systems in the world at about   
   $10,739 per person in 2017, according to a Senate staff analysis of the   
   bill. As of 2015, the analysis found that U.S. spending on prescription   
   drugs topped $1,000 per person annually and was 30 to 190 percent higher   
   than nine other western countries.   
      
   Under the Senate bill, a vendor would be chosen to administer the Canadian   
   drug import program in Florida. This vendor would develop a list of   
   prescription drugs that could be imported at the highest cost savings and   
   identify and contract with eligible Canadian suppliers. The imported drugs   
   would have to meet U.S. Food and Drug Administration standards for safety,   
   effectiveness, misbranding, and adulteration.   
      
   Controlled substances, drugs that are injected, and certain biological   
   products are among those that would not be permitted.   
      
   Opponents say the measure could lead to importation of risky counterfeit,   
   contaminated, or ineffective drugs; create a drug "black market;" and prove   
   costly to oversee and regulate. They also contend the drugs could contain   
   harmful or even deadly substances that consumers would not be aware of.   
      
   Bean said the bill envisions regular state inspections of batches of drugs   
   in addition to the regulatory and eligibility requirements.   
      
   "It allows Florida to have an option," Bean said. ""This will give us a   
   chance to get on the path of achieving savings for our constituents."   
      
   Vermont last year became the first state in the nation to enact a   
   prescription-drug importation law, but it has not yet been submitted for   
   approval to the federal health agency.   
      
   Read more here: https://www.sacbee.com/news/article228393304.html?itx[idio]   
   =8537583&ito=792&itq=5417d228-c05d-4290-94c7-680d01d65e0c#storylink=cpy   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)