Illinois requesting U.S. HHS Secretary to Approve Canadian Prescription Drugs

Illinois would become first state to take advantage of provision in new Medicare law that gives HHS authority to approve importation pilot projects

[DEC. 23, 2003]  CHICAGO – Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich and U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Chicago) today announced Illinois is submitting a formal request to U.S. Health and Human Services Sec. Tommy Thompson asking to launch the first federally-approved drug importation pilot program.  While the new Medicare law fails to grant broad approval for prescription drug importation, it does include language giving the Secretary of HHS authority to certify that importation at a demonstration project-level are safe.

Blagojevich also announced that his office is working with Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty to plan a February summit on the drug importation issue for the nation’s governors.

“States across the country are in similar positions, faced with rising health care bills and dwindling resources. The State of New Hampshire and the City of Boston recently joined the City of Springfield, Massachusetts, in importing prescription drugs from Canada without approval from the federal government,” said Blagojevich. “The State of Illinois would far prefer to work hand in hand with the federal government to safely and legally import prescription drugs from Canada so we can pass on those savings to our seniors, our consumers, and the taxpayers.”

Last year Illinois spend $340 million on prescription drugs for its employees and retirees, and $1.8 billion for all its health programs combined.

[News Release]

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