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Affordable and Safe Prescription Drug Importation Act

USA117th CongressS-920| Senate 
| Updated: 3/23/2021
Bernard Sanders

Bernard Sanders

Independent Senator

Vermont

Cosponsors (21)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)Patrick J. Leahy (Democratic)Jack Reed (Democratic)Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Alex Padilla (Democratic)Angus S. King (Independent)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)Robert P. Casey (Democratic)Sheldon Whitehouse (Democratic)Joe Manchin (Independent)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Debbie Stabenow (Democratic)Martin Heinrich (Democratic)Tina Smith (Democratic)Sherrod Brown (Democratic)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Ron Wyden (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, Primary Health and Retirement Security Subcommittee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Affordable and Safe Prescription Drug Importation Act This bill allows expanded importation of eligible prescription drugs and addresses related issues. Current law allows the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to authorize the importation of certain eligible prescription drugs from Canada if HHS certifies to Congress that doing so would pose no additional risk to public health and safety and would result in significant cost savings for consumers. The bill removes this certification requirement and requires HHS to issue regulations that permit the importation of qualifying prescription drugs from Canada. After a certain amount of time, HHS may authorize importation from certain other countries if it determines that importation from Canada has resulted in cost savings for consumers and increased access to safe medication. The bill also expands the types of prescription drugs eligible for importation to include, for example, biologics such as insulin. Furthermore, the bill allows individuals to use an eligible licensed foreign pharmacy to fill a U.S.-issued prescription for a qualifying drug for personal use. Currently, an individual seeking to import a prescription drug generally must acquire a waiver from HHS. The bill imposes various requirements related to certification of foreign sellers, labeling of imported drugs, and supply chain security. The bill also (1) prohibits certain acts that discriminate against foreign sellers, such as charging higher prices to foreign sellers than to other sellers in the same country; and (2) imposes criminal penalties for online websites that sell counterfeit drugs or dispense drugs without a required prescription.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-97
Affordable and Safe Prescription Drug Importation Act
Mar 23, 2021
Introduced in Senate
Mar 23, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Mar 23, 2021
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security. Hearings held.
Mar 24, 2021

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 117-2181
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-97
    Affordable and Safe Prescription Drug Importation Act


  • March 23, 2021
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 23, 2021
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.


  • March 23, 2021
    Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security. Hearings held.


  • March 24, 2021

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 117-2181
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health

Related Bills

  • HR 117-2181: Affordable and Safe Prescription Drug Importation Act
  • S 117-1898: Affordable Medications Act
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresCanadaCongressional oversightDepartment of Health and Human ServicesDrug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulationGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsPrescription drugsTrade restrictionsUser charges and fees

Affordable and Safe Prescription Drug Importation Act

USA117th CongressS-920| Senate 
| Updated: 3/23/2021
Affordable and Safe Prescription Drug Importation Act This bill allows expanded importation of eligible prescription drugs and addresses related issues. Current law allows the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to authorize the importation of certain eligible prescription drugs from Canada if HHS certifies to Congress that doing so would pose no additional risk to public health and safety and would result in significant cost savings for consumers. The bill removes this certification requirement and requires HHS to issue regulations that permit the importation of qualifying prescription drugs from Canada. After a certain amount of time, HHS may authorize importation from certain other countries if it determines that importation from Canada has resulted in cost savings for consumers and increased access to safe medication. The bill also expands the types of prescription drugs eligible for importation to include, for example, biologics such as insulin. Furthermore, the bill allows individuals to use an eligible licensed foreign pharmacy to fill a U.S.-issued prescription for a qualifying drug for personal use. Currently, an individual seeking to import a prescription drug generally must acquire a waiver from HHS. The bill imposes various requirements related to certification of foreign sellers, labeling of imported drugs, and supply chain security. The bill also (1) prohibits certain acts that discriminate against foreign sellers, such as charging higher prices to foreign sellers than to other sellers in the same country; and (2) imposes criminal penalties for online websites that sell counterfeit drugs or dispense drugs without a required prescription.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-97
Affordable and Safe Prescription Drug Importation Act
Mar 23, 2021
Introduced in Senate
Mar 23, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Mar 23, 2021
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security. Hearings held.
Mar 24, 2021

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 117-2181
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-97
    Affordable and Safe Prescription Drug Importation Act


  • March 23, 2021
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 23, 2021
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.


  • March 23, 2021
    Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security. Hearings held.


  • March 24, 2021

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 117-2181
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Bernard Sanders

Bernard Sanders

Independent Senator

Vermont

Cosponsors (21)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)Patrick J. Leahy (Democratic)Jack Reed (Democratic)Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Alex Padilla (Democratic)Angus S. King (Independent)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)Robert P. Casey (Democratic)Sheldon Whitehouse (Democratic)Joe Manchin (Independent)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Debbie Stabenow (Democratic)Martin Heinrich (Democratic)Tina Smith (Democratic)Sherrod Brown (Democratic)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Ron Wyden (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, Primary Health and Retirement Security Subcommittee

Health

Related Bills

  • HR 117-2181: Affordable and Safe Prescription Drug Importation Act
  • S 117-1898: Affordable Medications Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresCanadaCongressional oversightDepartment of Health and Human ServicesDrug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulationGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsPrescription drugsTrade restrictionsUser charges and fees