Canadian Prescription Drug Importation Program; established, report. (HB1404)

Introduced By

Del. Jay Leftwich (R-Chesapeake) with support from co-patron Del. Joe McNamara (R-Roanoke)

Description

Canadian Prescription Drug Importation Program established. Establishes the Canadian Prescription Drug Importation Program, pending federal approval and certification from the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Under the Program, the Commissioner of Health is required to designate the Department of Health, the Commissioner, or another agency or officer of the Commonwealth; a licensed drug wholesaler; or a nonprofit, nonstock corporation established by the Department as a public instrumentality exercising public and essential governmental functions to (i) import prescription drugs from Canadian suppliers and (ii) distribute the imported prescription drugs to pharmacies or pharmacists in the Commonwealth that contract with the designated entity to make the imported prescription drugs available to residents of the Commonwealth at the cost prescribed in the contract. The measure provides that only prescription drugs that have the highest potential for cost savings to the Commonwealth shall be identified for importation. The Program will authorize the designated entity to purchase prescription drugs from a Canadian supplier and distribute the prescription drugs to pharmacists and pharmacies that are in-network under a health plan provided by a health carrier, state employee health plan or local choice plan, and the Medicaid program. Contracts between the pharmacist or pharmacy and the designated entity will set the price at which the prescription drugs are to be provided to covered individuals. The measure requires the Commissioner, by December 1, 2021, to review the proposed Program and, if the proposed Program is approved, to submit the proposed Program for federal review. The Department is also required to prepare an implementation plan, which is to be put into effect six months after the last to occur of (a) the enactment of any legislation required for the establishment of the charge or assessment to finance the Program and (b) receipt of notice that the proposed Program has been approved and certified by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Read the Bill »

Outcome

History