Prescription Drug Importation Act; S. 184

[blondeatlast]

This could be a winner for the Dems; it would allow pharmacies, wholesalers, and individuals to import prescriptions from Canada.

Good for seniors, good for business, BAD, BAD, BAD, for the president to veto! Tell your parents, grandparents, anyone you know who relies on prescription drugs. This is a WINNER!

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?c109:1:./temp/~c109pjzoJt:e11105:

The nitty-gritty:

SEC. 812. PERSONAL IMPORTATION.

`(a) In General- An individual may import a prescription drug from Canada or a permitted country into the United States for personal use (not for resale), subject to subsections (b) and (c).

`(b) Importation- An individual may import a prescription drug if--

`(1) the prescription drug is purchased from a licensed pharmacy in Canada or a licensed pharmacy in a permitted country and dispensed in compliance with the applicable laws of Canada or the permitted country regarding the practice of pharmacy;

`(2) the prescription drug is imported for personal use (not for resale) by the individual;

`(3) the prescription drug is imported from Canada or a permitted country into the United States;

`(4) the prescription drug is imported by the individual on the person of the individual;

`(5) the quantity of the prescription drug imported does not exceed a 90-day supply during any 90-day period; and

`(6) the prescription drug is accompanied by--

`(A) a copy of a prescription valid in a State and cosigned by a prescribing physician in Canada or the permitted country; or

`(B) if the prescription drug is available in Canada or the permitted country without a prescription , a copy of the valid prescription signed by a pharmacist licensed in Canada or the permitted country.

`(c) Compassionate Use- The Secretary may permit an individual to import an up to a 90-day supply of a drug that is not approved by the Secretary under section 505 if the importation is for continuation of personal use by the individual for treatment, begun in a foreign country, of a serious medical condition.

`SEC. 813. PHARMACY AND WHOLESALER IMPORTATION OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

`(a) In General-

`(1) IMPORTATION- A drug importation facility, pharmacy, Internet pharmacy, or wholesaler may import a prescription drug from Canada or a permitted country into the United States for dispensing in the United States in accordance with this subchapter.

That's it in a nutshell.

[UL_Approved]

1. I wonder if it will go anywhere

When the GOP in the Senate try to get rid of this, publicity needs to be brought out for the kill. You are right about the bill and the news. It would be a tough point to justify (killing the bill) in the days of "privatization".

[blondeatlast]

2. This is a definite talking point, phrased differently of course.

I'm going to look it over to find some talking points so we can get DUers writing letters. I'll post them here.

Any ideas are more than welcome!