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5/28/2024
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Senate passes Chairman DiPalma’s bill to import cheaper prescription drugs from Canada
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STATE HOUSE – The Senate today approved legislation sponsored by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Louis P. DiPalma that would establish the Wholesale Prescription Drug Importation Program to help Rhode Islanders struggling with the costs of prescription drugs.
“We have a very serious problem in this state with far too many of our residents foregoing their vital medication due to the rising costs of their medicine. It’s unconscionable that so many Rhode Islanders, particularly our elderly, are forced to make the choice between food or medicine, or between housing and energy costs or medicine. This is no way for our residents to live their lives and this legislation will have a big impact on prescription drug affordability in Rhode Island. The fact that identical drugs are so much cheaper across the border in Canada is a clear demonstration of the dysfunction in our healthcare system, but until extensive and much-needed reform takes place, this legislation should ease the costs on many Rhode Islanders so they don’t have to make these heartbreaking choices every month,” said Chairman DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Middletown, Little Compton, Newport, Tiverton).
The legislation (2024-S 2400) would create a wholesale drug importation program to directly import lower-cost drugs from Canada to be sold throughout Rhode Island. The drugs must be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and must be cheaper in Canada to be eligible. Florida recently received federal authorization to import prescription drugs from Canada after passing similar legislation.
The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration where Rep. Teresa A. Tanzi (D-Dist. 34, South Kingstown, Narragansett) has introduced the legislation (2024-H 7444).
For more information, contact:
Andrew Caruolo, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-6124
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