2004 Legislation
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HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 16 – Prescription drugs/Canada purchase

HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 16

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Bill Status



HJM016.....................................................by STATE AFFAIRS
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS - Stating findings of the Legislature and urging
Congress to adopt legislation to allow people of the United States and
state and local government entities to legally purchase prescription drugs
in Canada.
                                                                        
02/10    House intro - 1st rdg - to printing
02/11    Rpt prt - to Health/Wel

Bill Text


                                                                        
                                                                        
  ]]]]              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ]]]]
 Fifty-seventh Legislature                 Second Regular Session - 2004
                                                                        
                                                                        
                              IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
                                                                        
                                HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 16
                                                                        
                                 BY STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
                                                                        
  1                                   A JOINT MEMORIAL
  2    TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED  STATES  IN  CONGRESS
  3        ASSEMBLED,  AND  TO THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION REPRESENTING THE STATE OF
  4        IDAHO IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES.
                                                                        
  5        We, your Memorialists, the House of Representatives and the Senate of  the
  6    State  of  Idaho  assembled in the Second Regular Session of the Fifty-seventh
  7    Idaho Legislature, do hereby respectfully represent that:
                                                                        
  8        WHEREAS, the cost of prescription drugs imposes a  heavy  burden  on  many
  9    Idahoans, particularly people of retirement age on fixed incomes; and
 10        WHEREAS,  Medicare  beneficiaries  made up almost 15% of the population in
 11    1999, but accounted for about 40% of total  United  States  prescription  drug
 12    spending; and
 13        WHEREAS,  legislation passed by the United States Congress does nothing to
 14    curb the cost of prescription drugs purchased in the United States; and
 15        WHEREAS, the assistance provided  in  that  legislation  does  not  become
 16    effective until 2006; and
 17        WHEREAS, prescription drugs of comparable quality are available in Canada,
 18    often  at  much  less  than the cost of the same drugs purchased in the United
 19    States; and
 20        WHEREAS, the cost of prescription drugs purchased  in  the  United  States
 21    contributes  to increasing costs for health care for public employees which is
 22    funded, in part, by state and federal tax dollars; and
 23        WHEREAS, the cost for prescription drugs for Idaho Medicaid recipients was
 24    $128 million in fiscal year 2003 and is projected at $150.5 million in  fiscal
 25    year 2005; and
 26        WHEREAS,  between 1998 and 2000, prices for all prescription drugs rose at
 27    more than triple the rate of inflation and brand-name drug prices rose  nearly
 28    four times as fast as the rate of inflation.
 29        NOW,  THEREFORE,  BE IT RESOLVED by the members of the Second Regular Ses-
 30    sion of the Fifty-seventh Idaho Legislature, the House of Representatives  and
 31    the  Senate concurring therein, that we urge Congress to pass and approve leg-
 32    islation freeing the people of the United States and state and  local  govern-
 33    ment entities to legally purchase prescription drugs in Canada based on a list
 34    developed  by  state  boards  of pharmacy to assure quality. Further study and
 35    investigation should be undertaken to assure that the citizens of the state of
 36    Idaho and of the United States have access to prescription drugs at reasonable
 37    prices to assure their good health.
 38        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chief Clerk of the  House  of  Representa-
 39    tives  be, and she is hereby authorized and directed to forward a copy of this
 40    Memorial to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Repre-
 41    sentatives of Congress, and  the  congressional  delegation  representing  the
 42    State of Idaho in the Congress of the United States.

Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact



                       STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
                            RS 13858C1
This memorial would ask the U.S. Congress and the President to
allow Idaho citizens and government entities to legally acquire
lower cost prescription drugs from Canada.  It also specifies
that such legal purchases would be based on a list of drugs
determined by state board of pharmacy to assure quality.
                          FISCAL IMPACT
Legalizing the sale of prescription drugs form Canada could
potentially save the people of Idaho millions of dollars and
could slow the growth of medical costs for state and local
government.



Contact
Name: 
Rep. Mary Lou Shepherd
Rep. Elaine Smith                    Rep. Wendy Jaquet
Rep. Elmer Martinez                  Rep. Margaret Henbest
Rep. Allen Andersen                  Rep. Mike Mitchell
Rep. Donna Boe                       Rep. George Sayler
Rep. Shirley Ringo                   Sen. Bert Marley
Rep. Bonnie Douglas                  Sen. Edgar Malepeai
Rep. David Langhorst                 Sen. Clint Stennett          
Rep. Mike Naccarato                  Sen. Elliot Werk
Rep. Anne Pasley-Stuart              Sen. Marti Calabretta
Rep. Ken Robison                     Sen. Mike Burkett
Rep. Charles Cuddy                   
Number: 332-1000

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE                      HJM 016