Facilitate the Licensing of International Mail Order Prescription Pharmacies by the Maine Board of Pharmacy
| Category: | Pharmacy Related |
|---|---|
| Status: | Defeated |
| Sponsor: | Senator Troy Jackson, Senate 35 - York County |
| Session: | 126 |
| Bill #: | LD 171 |
Position:
Opposed. This bill is from the 126th Legislature, not the 127th.
UPDATE April 10: The 30 day window for the State of Maine to appeal the ruling has passed. The US District Court ruling is FINAL!
UPDATE February 23, 2015: The US District Court ruled in our favor on the grounds that it violates federal law. Read the decision HERE.
UPDATE Fall 2013: The Retail Association of Maine is a plaintiff in a federal lawsuit to overturn this legislation. We believe it clearly violates federal law and puts the safety of Maine people at risk.
UPDATE 6/27/13: Governor LePage has let this bill become law without his signature. He sent a letter to the legislature accompanying the bill. We are deeply disappointed in the outcome of this bill. The bill will take effect 90 days post-adjournment.
UPDATE 6/24/13: The governor has still not acted on the bill. Contact the governor at 207-287-3531!
UPDATE 6/19/13: This bill has been passed and awaits action by the governor. We are urging the governor to veto this legislation.
UPDATE 6/14/13: Both the Senate and House voted to pass the bill despite strong objections from the pharmacy community. The Senate voted 29-5. The House voted 107-37. The bill now moves to Governor LePage's desk for action.
UPDATE 6/8/13: ACTION ALERT! WE NEED OUR MEMBERS TO CONTACT YOUR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES IMMEDIATELY. URGE THEM TO OPPOSE THE OUGHT TO PASS AS AMENDED MOTION. THIS BILL WILL JEAPORDIZE PATIENT SAFETY AND VIOLATES FEDERAL LAW. SEE THE AMENDED VERSION OF BILL.
UPDATE 5/17/13: On Friday, the LCRED Committee passed an amended version of the bill that limits the importation to 4 specific Tier One countries. Interestingly, it was being bandied about that this program will now save the state $17 million annually. Last year's program was only booked to save $3 million. We believe this bill violates federal regulations and we will continue to strongly fight it.
Our concern is both the safety of the medications being imported as well as making sure the rules that retail pharmacy needs to comply with also apply to international pharmacies. See our testimony.
Testimony of Maine Pharmacy Association.
There is another bill expected on this topic and the LCRED committee will likely wait to work this bill after the other bill is heard.
UPDATE 5/10/13: This bill remains tabled in LCRED.
Summary:
The purpose of this bill is to facilitate the licensing of international mail order prescription pharmacies by the Maine Board of Pharmacy. This bill:
1. Specifies that, for the purposes of the Maine Pharmacy Act, "mail order prescription pharmacy" includes an entity located outside the United States that dispenses prescription medications by mail or carrier from a facility not located in this State to a pharmacy or to a patient who resides in this State; and
2. Authorizes the Maine Board of Pharmacy to enter into reciprocal inspection agreements with any country in which a mail order prescription facility that sells drugs to Maine citizens is located.