Assembly gets bill to allow Canadian drug imports

Assembly Majority Leader Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, Thursday introduced a bill to allow importation of prescription drugs from Canada.

AB195 would let the Nevada State Board of Pharmacy license Canadian pharmacies and post them on the Office for Consumer Health Assistance Web site. Individuals could then use their prescriptions to order medicines except for controlled substances or drugs not approved by the FDA.

She said a maximum three-month supply of any drug could be ordered at one time.

Buckley said senior citizens and families are finding it harder and harder to afford the medicines they need and that the Bush administration Medicare drug program favors pharmaceutical companies over senior citizens.

"While AB195 would give all Nevadans a safe method of buying drugs from Canada, it is perhaps our senior population who needs this relief the most," Buckley said. "Currently, federal legislation prohibits Medicare from negotiating lower drug prices. Seniors on Medicare pay 30-70 percent more for their drugs than Canadians."

Buckley said she will also introduce legislation asking Congress to make changes in the federal law to provide meaningful prescription drug reform.

A hearing on AB195 is set before the Commerce and Labor Committee on March 16.

n Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.