Colorado Gov. Jared Polis says a new law will clear the way for safely importing prescription drugs while lowering costs.
At a ceremony in Fort Collins Thursday, he signed a bill allowing prescription drugs from Canada to be resold at Colorado pharmacies. Polis blames prescription drugs for driving up health care costs.
“Americans are getting ripped off on those costs,” Polis said. “Because for the exact same prescription drug we’re paying three times as much, five times as much as they are in Canada.”
The bill directs the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to create the program and identify cost savings and safety measures. The program will require approval from Alex Azar, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, who has criticized the likelihood of reduced costs from Canadian imports.
President Donald Trump told Polis that he approves of Colorado’s plan. Florida is working on a similar program.
KUNC contributed to this report.