Americans are feeling the squeeze of inflation, and for many families and seniors across the country that comes with the added scare of having to choose between affording their medication or keeping a roof over their heads. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that price markups on prescriptions filled by mail-order pharmacies—especially those owned by the pharmacy-benefit managers–- are increasing and cost as much as 35 times more than what other pharmacies charge.
In bright contrast, U.S. Health and Human Services price comparisons demonstrate that identical medications from Canada can cost up to 90 percent less than the price charged in the United States. The top 60 drugs sold in America cost nearly four times as much as Canada. Americans who personally import their medications by mail from licensed Canadian pharmacies report saving an average of $4,920 a year.
Just this week, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) introduced the “Affordable and Safe Prescription Drug Importation Act of 2024 (H.R.8848)” legislation that would expand Americans’ access to prescription importation. The American public has long supported prescription importation from Canada as a solution to high drug costs in the U.S. 2019 Kaiser Family Foundation polling found 78% of the public favors allowing Americans to buy prescription drugs imported from licensed Canadian pharmacies. Prescription importation from Canada has broad support across party lines – 75% of Democrats, 82% of Independents, and 75% of Republicans. The Kaiser Family Foundation also reports that five million Americans already import their medications due to high costs.
It is time for Congress and the Biden Administration to advance personal prescription importation and ensure access to affordable drug prices for all Americans.
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