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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
]]]] 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
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