Two solutions to this problem that I have long supported include maintaining access to lower-cost generic drugs and allowing Americans to safely import brand-name prescription drugs from other countries at prices that are cheaper than here in the U.S.
This week, the Senate voted 93-1 to approve a bill to reform and reauthorize the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) drug safety and user fee programs. Within this bill, I am pleased that some provisions were passed to address prescription drug costs, including an amendment authored by Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and myself to limit abuse by pharmaceutical companies of the FDA's "citizen" petition process.
The FDA has found that most citizen petitions that are filed are simply attempts to delay generic drug approvals. I am pleased that this amendment will allow the FDA to verify legitimate petitions without delaying access to generic drugs.
However, an amendment to allow drug importation failed - effectively maintaining higher drug costs for all consumers. Currently, Americans pay 35 to 55 percent higher for brand-name drugs, the highest in the world, simply because our current laws prevent competition.
While drug manufacturers import billions in prescription drugs each year, consumers are prohibited from accessing these same prescription drugs at lower prices from overseas. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that drug importation would save U.S. consumers more than $50 billion over the next decade.
I voted in favor of allowing Americans the opportunity to purchase safe prescription drugs from developed nations, but unfortunately the Democrat controlled Senate failed to pass this common-sense legislation.
According to the Wall Street Journal, 80 percent of Americans support drug importation and 70 percent of pharmacies would carry cheaper imported drugs if they were allowed to do so. It is unfortunate that politics got involved and killed this opportunity to lower the cost of brand-name pharmaceuticals.
Ensuring access to quality, affordable health care in rural areas like South Dakota is a challenging task - and I will continue to support drug importation as part of the solution to controlling prescription drug costs. As a member of the Senate Rural Health Caucus, I will continue to fight for health care reforms that promote competition in order to achieve greater affordability and access to quality health care for South Dakotans.
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