Office of Senator Aaron Bean
MEDIA RELEASE
June 17, 2019 10:00 a.m.
The state of Florida took a substantial step towards lowering prescription drug prices Tuesday when Governor DeSantis signed HB 19, Prescription Drug Importation Programs, into law. Senator Aaron Bean (R-Fernandina Beach) sponsored the Senate companion bill, SB 1528, and diligently advocated for the legislation’s passage to provide relief to Floridians overwhelmed with ever-increasing drug costs. HB 19 establishes a Canadian Prescription Drug Importation Program within the Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration, which the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary must approve. The bill also creates an International Prescription Drug Importation Program within the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, which the U.S. Congress must pass legislation to authorize.
“Floridians are sick and tired of paying the highest prescription drug prices in the world,” said Senator Bean. “This bill addresses the soaring drug prices plaguing our state and makes Florida an innovative leader in reducing this burden on taxpayers.”
There are also numerous consumer safeguards within HB 19, and all imported drugs will face rigorous testing upon entering the United States. Once the federal government authorizes either drug importation program, it will come before the Florida Legislature again for final approval.
Click here to read more about this bill on the Florida Senate website.
Senator Bean represents Senate District 4, which includes parts of Nassau and Duval Counties. He can be contacted in his Jacksonville office at (904) 757-5039.
Great, really great. Foreign manufacturers of laboratory created synthetic compounds will have a larger marketplace. Yet access to domestically produced medical cannabis has tons of obstacles. Those who say cannabis causes neurosis might be neurotic.
This bill is all show. Let me know when someone actually benefits from it since it depends on the U.S. Congress to pass legislation to authorize it.