Washington D.C.  -  U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) today commented on the conference report on the Medicare Prescription Drug Bill currently being finalized.

The bill reportedly contains a Canada-only provision for the import of low-cost prescription drugs, subject to the certification of the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). A similar provision in current law contains the same certification, but would extend the policy of importing prescription drugs to 26 nations. Certification, however, has never been granted by HHS.

"I cannot help but view this as a step backwards for market access to prescription drugs from overseas. Seniors and others in Missouri have been hopeful for legislation to significantly reduce the cost of their prescription drugs, and market access has long been a major need," Emerson said. "We cannot continue to force Americans to make bus trips over the border to obtain reasonably-priced prescription drugs.

"Unfortunately, my constituents live in the heartland of America. Many of them rely on the Internet to get affordable prescription drugs. With counterfeits and a weak chain of custody over the pharmaceuticals that exist there, this is not an acceptable solution. This agreement doesn't reflect the will of the House of Representatives when we passed a market access bill by a wide margin in late July.

"Regardless of what the Medicare bill says about market access, I will continue to fight for importation in Congress. This is a policy that would save Americans hundreds of billions of dollars over the next ten years.

"The twin problems of skyrocketing health care costs and the huge number of uninsured Americans warrant responsible action on Medicare reform and access to affordable prescription drugs as soon as possible."