Increasing Drug Importation To Lower Prices for American Patients

2020-07-29Executive Order 13938
Signed by: Donald Trump
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Headline: 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: drug costs, prescription importation, health policy, insulin access

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.

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