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US Drug Importation: Hard To See Path Forward, Former HHS Adviser Says

 
• By Cathy Kelly

Former drug pricing advisor John O’Brien discusses next steps for Administration policies around importation and international reference pricing during a speech to the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy.

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Too Many Obstacles In The Way For Drug Importation?

The path to implementing a prescription drug importation program in the US is so filled with obstacles that in the end, the main impact of the policy may be the message that the White House is open to considering it, former Health and Human Services Department senior advisor for drug pricing John O’Brien suggests.

HHS released an “action plan” outlining a possible regulatory approach to allowing lower-cost drugs to be imported into the US in July. (Also see "Canadian Importation Option May Be Hindered By Product, Savings Restrictions" - Pink Sheet, 31 July, 2019.) Since then, the state of Florida submitted an importation proposal to HHS for approval and President Trump has hinted that the department will respond favorably

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