WASHINGTON  -  U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) reacted to Gov. Rob Blagojevich’s statement today that the State of Illinois would seek prescription drugs from Canada for 250,000 state employees and retirees.  Emerson is a vocal advocate for market access to prescription drugs sold in other countries.

 

Illinois joins California and Springfield, Mass., as states and municipalities publicly stating their intention to go to foreign markets to find cheaper, but safe, medicines to reduce stress on their budgets.

 

"Americans pay the world’s highest prices for prescription drugs, despite being the world’s best customers.  States and municipalities are looking for solutions to their general budget woes, and pharmaceutical costs are a logical place to look for cuts.  The product is exactly the same, but the prices in other markets are much, much better," Emerson said.  "There is only one catch – what these state and local governments want to do is prohibited under current law."

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that American senior citizens will spend $1.8 trillion on prescription drugs over the next ten years.  At an average cost savings of 35 percent, though many drugs can be purchased overseas at even greater discounts, Americans would save $630 billion.

"The law prohibiting market access to low-cost prescription drugs prevents pharmacies from doing what drug companies do: bring prescription drugs from overseas in a safe, controlled way.  We’re a captive market.  Americans and their governments should be able to seek, and pay, the lowest price for their medicines," Emerson said.  "A policy of importation could save states literally millions of dollars in medicaid costs."

American taxpayers also contribute $30 billion to $40 billion annually to drug research and development through studies at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). 

"The drug industry will take as much as we give it.  The time for America to apply downward pressure on prescription drug prices is long overdue.  Seniors on fixed incomes and states in dire financial straits need help now," Emerson said.