Increasing Drug Importation To Lower Prices for American Patients
Expands Importation of Lower-Cost Prescription Drugs from Other Countries
What it does
Agencies must expand safe access to lower-cost imported prescription drugs through individual import waivers, emergency insulin re-importation, and completing rulemaking to permit some Canadian imports.
Real-world impact
- May allow patients to obtain lower-cost prescription drugs from other countries.
- Creates a waiver process letting individuals import prescription drugs when safe and cheaper.
- Permits emergency re-importation of insulin when required for medical care.
Topics
Summary
This order directs federal health officials to expand safe access to lower-cost imported prescription drugs. It asks the Secretary of Health and Human Services to grant individual import waivers, allow emergency re-importation of insulin when needed, and finish a rule to permit some prescription imports from Canada.
The change is aimed at lowering what American patients pay for medicines by increasing trade with countries that have lower drug prices.
Questions, answered
Ask questions about this executive order and its implications. Try:
- “What agencies are affected by this order?”
- “How does this order change existing policy?”
- “What are the practical implications of this order?”