HB 2689A Importing prescription drugs

CONTACT WAYS AND MEANS MEMBERS DIRECTLY (see sample below)

This bill requires Oregon Health Authority to design a program to import wholesale prescription drugs from Canada if there is a cost savings, and upon federal approval.

Personal Choice and Responsibility
Foreign drug importation proposals sacrifice patient safety , but will not achieve cost savings. Importation of drugs from Canada compromises the safety and integrity of medication dispensed to U.S. residents. People who buy drugs from Canada do so at their own risk, and that won’t change. Importing will raise costs on other Prescription drugs as well by adding more layers to the Pharmacy procedures.

Fiscal Responsibility
Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) are put in a position to be experts in understanding the many factors that can affect patient safety. Proposing importation of drugs from Canada will bypass essential safety checks and likely have little effect on the entities that influence drug prices.

Limited Government
Overreach of government into private business. The US prescription drug supply chain is the safest in the world because it is a closed-loop system that tracks medicines from the manufacturer to the pharmacy counter. This is not a claim that can be made by Canada or any other country, opening up the possibility of counterfeit drugs will make their way to US patients. Organizations track the drug supply chain have tracked counterfeit drugs into Oregon – including from certified Canadian wholesalers. Federal and state law enforcement agencies have taken steps to notify Oregonians about the presence of counterfeit drugs and warn Oregon medical practices that are selling those drugs. Creating an importation program creates more opportunity for this to happen, not less.

SAMPLE EMAIL TO WAYS AND MEANS TO COPY AND PASTE

Dear Ways and Means Committee Member

I STRONGLY OPPOSE HB 2689A

Proposing importation of drugs from Canada will bypass essential safety checks and have little effect on the entities that influence drug prices. Foreign drug importation proposals sacrifice patient safety , but will not achieve cost savings. People who buy drugs from Canada do so at their own risk, and that won’t change. Importing will raise costs on other Prescription drugs as well by adding more layers to the Pharmacy procedures.

The US prescription drug supply chain is the safest in the world because it is a closed-loop system that tracks medicines from the manufacturer to the pharmacy counter. Opening a loophole invites in counterfeit drugs.

This bill does not do what is intended and should die in committee.

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