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Prescription drug bill won't
deliver
on its promises, representatives say
Reps.
Bill Hinkle, R-Cle Elum, and Janéa Holmquist, R-Moses Lake, said
a prescription drug bill approved by the House of Representatives today
is risky and makes false promises to the people of Washington. The bill
would create a state-approved system for purchasing drugs from Canada
and encourage more people to enroll in the state-run drug-purchasing
program. Both representatives voted against the bill.
“This package promises everything and delivers nothing,” said Rep.
Hinkle, a member of the House Health Care Committee. “It’s a hoax that
plays on the fears of our elderly, the mentally ill and others who need
prescription drugs. Buying these drugs from Canada in an organized and
large-scale fashion is against federal law. This legislation offers
people something it just can’t deliver, and it also puts people’s health
at risk because we can’t guarantee the safety of these drugs. That’s a
very bad combination.”
House Bill 1194 would require state-run health care programs to allow
bulk purchasing of drugs from Canadian pharmacies and wholesalers, a
move that is against federal law unless the state could get a federal
waiver from the Food and Drug Administration. It would also require
state health care programs to encourage and facilitate individuals to
buy their prescription drugs from Canadian pharmacies, and even offer
uniform medical plan enrollees a financial incentive to do so. Finally,
it would direct the state Health Care Authority to develop a web site
informing Washingtonians about opportunities to purchase prescription
drugs from Canadian pharmacies.
“It is a known fact that some Washingtonians are currently, on an
individual basis, purchasing prescriptions in Canada. HB 1194 might push
Canada to take away the ability of our citizens to continue this
practice,” said Holmquist. “Currently, in Canada’s national parliament,
a measure is being considered which would ban the deportation of
Canadian drugs. Until we know what action is taken by the Canadian
parliament, HB 1194 is a mute point.”
The measure passed the House by a vote of 56-42. It now goes to the
Senate for consideration.
# # #
For more information, contact:
John Handy, Assistant
Communications Director - (360) 786-5758
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