By Angela Cortez, AARP Colorado
On May 16, Governor Jared Polis signed into law SB19-005, Import Prescription Drugs From Canada, a bill sponsored by Senators Joann Ginal and Robert Rodriguez, and Rep. Sonya Jaquez Lewis, to lower the cost of prescription drugs for Coloradans by importing them from Canada.
“AARP strongly supported the legislation and testified on behalf of it, and we are excited to see it get underway,” said Kelli Fritts, AARP Colorado Director of Advocacy.
Americans often pay far more for the exact same prescription drug as consumers in other countries, For example, Proventil inhalers for asthma cost $73 dollars in the United States, but only $21 in Canada. Americans pay more than $200 per month for Crestor, a popular cholesterol drug, while Canadian patients can pay less than $50 dollars per month for the same drug.
“Coloradans are doing extreme things to be able to afford the medication they need,” said Senator Rodriguez. “I am proud that Governor Polis signed this bill into law which will establish a program that will make sure every Coloradan has access to safe, affordable prescription medications.”
“Lowering the cost of prescription drugs isn’t a partisan issue, it is about helping save Coloradans money on the medicines they need,” said Senator Ginal. “This legislation will make medications more available to the people who need then, and I am proud that Governor Polis signed it into law today.”
SB19-005 will require the department of health care policy and financing department to design a program to import pharmaceutical drugs from Canada for sale to Colorado consumers. The program will ensure safety and cost savings so that Coloradans can afford their prescription medications.