Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at a press conference at a pharmaceutical storage facility run by LifeScience Logistics on May 28, 2021. Florida is paying countless dollars to the business to establish its drug importation program. (Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket by means of Getty Images)
Almost a year after the Biden administration offered Florida the thumbs-up to end up being the very first state to import lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada– a long time objective of political leaders throughout the political spectrum, consisting of President-elect Donald Trump– the program has yet to start.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis hailed the FDA’s approval of his strategy in January, calling it a triumph over the drug market, which opposes importation on the premises that it would result in a rise in fake medications.
A Florida health authorities acquainted with the importation program informed KFF Health News there was no organized date yet for the state to start importing drugs. The main asked not to be determined since they weren’t licensed to speak openly about the program.
Florida used to develop an importation program in November 2020, simply months after the Trump administration offered states the choice. DeSantis, a Republican, grumbled openly for several years about the speed of the federal approval procedure under the Biden administration and in 2022 submitted match versus the FDA for what he called a “negligent hold-up.”
Trump promoted his administration’s transfer to bring medications over the border in a preelection interview released last month by AARP, the advocacy group for older Americans, which supports permitting Americans to purchase drugs from Canada. He swore to “continue my efforts to safeguard Americans from unaffordable drug costs” in a 2nd term.
It’s unclear whether his 2nd administration will or can do more to assist Florida and other states established programs, since it’s eventually as much as the states to act. Colorado is the just other state that has an importation strategy pending with the FDA.
DeSantis administration authorities have actually declined for months to address concerns from KFF Health News about the program. Alecia Collins, deputy chief of personnel for the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, stated in October that authorities were taking a trip and not available. In mid-November, she stated she still had no responses.
DeSantis press secretary Jeremy Redfern stated he had actually been “knocked” because the very first week of November and might not respond to concerns.
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FDA representative Cherie Duvall-Jones stated she might not address whether Florida had actually sent files the company needs before the state can begin importing medications. She referred all concerns to the state.
Drug business usually offer medications for far less in Canada than in the United States, as an outcome of Canadian federal government rate controls. Since of security and effectiveness issues, federal law forbids customers from purchasing drugs from outdoors U.S. borders other than in unusual cases.
Political leaders varying from conservatives such as DeSantis to liberals such as Sen.