RxRights to White House: Don’t Cut off Americans’ Lifeline to Affordable Medications
posted Fri, 29 Jun 2012In response to the passage of the FDA reauthorization bill (S. 3187/H.R. 5651) by Congress, Lee Graczyk, lead organizer of RxRights, issued the following statement yesterday:
“The passage of the FDA reauthorization bill, specifically Section 708, will have devastating consequences on more than a million Americans for whom personal importation from licensed, legitimate international pharmacies is a virtual lifeline. In particular, more than 100,000 people in California, more than 100,000 people in Florida and more than 50,000 people in New York alone will be directly affected by this bill.”
“That is because Section 708 allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to determine that any imported medicine valued at $2,500 or less may be seized and subject to destruction, without reimbursement or replacement, following a potentially prolonged appeals process.
“This provision, coupled with today’s tough economy, will put safe, affordable prescription medications out of reach for Americans, especially seniors on a fixed income, who cannot afford the exorbitant cost of prescription medicines in the U.S. It could even leave these consumers having to choose between buying their groceries and filling their prescriptions — a choice no one should be forced to make.
“RxRights is hopeful that the White House will recognize the section regarding such prescription drug seizures for what it is — nothing more than the latest attempt by PhRMA to force Americans to purchase their vital medications at the highest possible price. We urge the White House not to pass the FDA reauthorization bill due to the portions that require the HHS Secretary to promulgate rules for seizures.
“In the meantime, we ask our supporters throughout the nation to engage with their elected officials and those candidates for federal office over the upcoming holiday. We encourage our advocates to ask how they are supposed to get their affordable medicine when they don’t qualify for any form of assistance, now that Congress has eliminated personal importation as a viable option.”