In My View
AARP Montana supports drug imports
By Pat Callbeck Harper
Prescription drug prices in the United States are skyrocketing. A recent AARP study showed that prices for those brand-name prescription drugs most frequently used by older Americans and available in January 2000 increased nearly three times the rate of inflation in 2003.
This upward spiral in drug prices continues to cause financial hardship for many Montanans, especially our seniors. Importation of prescription drugs into this country is one way to help Montanans save money on their medications.
That is why AARP is supporting S. 2328, a new bipartisan bill sponsored by Senators Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and 22 cosponsors, that would legalize the safe importation of prescription drugs from other countries, beginning with Canada.
AARP Montana knows Montanans are having trouble buying prescription drugs. A poll that we released in July that surveyed 800 Montanans 18 and older showed that:
Most Montanans — two out of three, or 66 percent — are concerned about being able to afford the cost of their prescription drugs over the next two years.
Among Montanans 18 and older taking prescription drugs on a regular basis, two out of three say that paying for prescription medications is a major (32 percent) or minor (34 percent) financial problem.
These new poll results confirm what we already knew — that Montanans really are concerned about the high cost of prescription drugs. That's why AARP is working on a long-term strategy to bring down the high cost of prescription drugs, and why we've endorsed Senate legislation to legalize the safe importation of affordable prescription drugs to Montana and the U.S.
Our new poll also showed that three out of four Montanans (78 percent) would support the federal government making it easier for people to buy prescription drugs from Canada.
Six in 10 (59 percent) Montanans surveyed said they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who supported putting this program into effect. And among those who report taking prescription drugs on a regular basis (424 of the 800 Montanans sampled), two-thirds (66 percent) strongly support and two in five (20 percent) somewhat support the federal government making it easier for people to buy prescription drugs from Canada if they can get them for a lower price.
Montanans are already buying prescription drugs from Canada and other countries, so the question no longer is whether our nation should allow importation of prescription drugs from other countries. AARP believes we need to legalize this and make sure that a system is in place that guarantees safety.
The Dorgan-Snowe bill does this. It includes important safety standards that AARP advocates.
It will strengthen the safety of America's drug supply from abroad and give FDA the authority and resources it needs to do the job.
Another important feature of the legislation is that it seeks to prevent the pharmaceutical industry from limiting supplies of drugs to countries and companies willing to export lower-cost pharmaceuticals to the U.S.
It would do no good to legalize importation if the drug companies could just choke off the supply.
We believe this bill meets the challenges of designing a prescription drug importation program that protects the integrity of pharmaceuticals and provides a streamlined process that enables consumers to access lower-cost prescription drugs.
It also will help pressure pharmaceutical manufacturers to keep prices affordable. We will work aggressively for its passage this year.
Our members have consistently told us that they feel strongly about the spiraling prescription drug prices in this country. It's not the complete answer, but it will put downward pressure on price and that's why AARP supports the Dorgan-Snowe bill.
AARP is continuing to attack this high drug cost problem on a variety of fronts. We recently published our first AARP Rx Watchdog Report that tracks the costs of prescription drugs used most by people 50 and older.
We will continue to shine a spotlight on industry pricing practices. We're also working to help people understand and sign up for the Medicare drug card, protect retiree health benefits and help state governments maintain their drug assistance programs.
The bottom line: To make quality health care and prescription drugs affordable and available to all Montanans and Americans.
Pat Callbeck Harper is associate state director for advocacy and communications for AARP Montana, a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization for people age 50 and over. AARP Montana has 141,000 members.