LANSING, Mich. — Sen. Ruth Johnson this week reintroduced legislation to create a prescription drug importation system in Michigan to help people save money on doctor-prescribed medications.
“This is about continuing the fight to help Michigan patients — who have struggled to afford lifesaving and quality-of-life medications for decades,” said Johnson, R-Holly. “It’s not fair or reasonable that our residents are forced to pay three times more for necessary prescriptions than people in Canada.
“President Trump took steps during his first term to authorize state drug importation programs. Since this process was started in 2019, seven states have passed laws allowing for such programs to help lower the cost of prescription drugs for their residents. And one state, Florida, has already had its program approved by the FDA.”
Johnson said a 2023 study found that the price of patented drugs in the United States was, on average, 332% higher than the price of the same patented drugs in Canada.
Senate Bill 317 would allow Michigan to establish a Canadian drug importation program for the expressed purpose of reducing the cost of prescription drugs for Michigan consumers.
The bill requires the use of the same “track and trace” standards the U.S. Food and Drug Administration uses for U.S. pharmaceuticals to ensure the authenticity and safety of prescription drugs that are imported.
“Once again, I am introducing legislation to fix this problem by allowing people in our state to save money by purchasing prescriptions originating in Canada at huge discounts — while still ensuring quality and safety,” Johnson said.
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