And, believe it or not, that all was actually the easy part.<\/p>\n
Now comes the much tougher task: persuading pharmaceutical manufacturers to work with the program when they could just say no and continue to sell higher-priced drugs to Coloradans and their insurance companies.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been a long, hard road to get what should be simple approval,\u201d Gov. Jared Polis said in an interview this week. \u201cWe are after all talking about drugs that are made in the exact same factories, shipped to different places, and we want to simply bring them back in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Why drugs cost less in Canada<\/p>\n
Pharmaceutical pricing is famously mystifying, and this is readily apparent in the price gap between drugs sold in Colorado and those sold in Canada, where the national government imposes controls to keep prices down<\/a>.<\/p>\n Colorado is seeking to import 20 drugs from 10 manufacturers. (You can see the list here.<\/a>)<\/p>\n It includes TV-ad-famous drugs Ozempic and Eliquis, as well as lesser known medicines like the leukemia drug Sprycel. The state says the latter drug could be delivered to Coloradans for 68% less if it were imported from Canada, the biggest savings in the group. Three other drugs could see at least a 50% reduction, according to the state.<\/p>\n Overall, the state estimates that Coloradans would save $46.2 million over the program\u2019s first three years<\/a> through lower prescription costs and lower insurance prices. These savings would be felt by people who have private health insurance<\/a>. The state budget would not see much impact because Medicaid can already purchase drugs at Canada-level prices<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is an uphill battle, and it\u2019s rigged that way,\u201d Polis said. \u201cReally, Americans are getting ripped off on prescription drugs.\u201d<\/p>\n Second state to win federal approval<\/p>\n Colorado\u2019s is the second state drug-importation program to win federal approval. Florida received its approval in 2024, but the program is stalled<\/a> and has not imported any medicine.<\/p>\n The Canadian government poses one challenge. It has said it will not allow drugs to be exported from Canada \u201cif this could cause or worsen shortages here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe government\u2019s position is that importing large quantities of drugs intended for the Canadian market is not a solution to high drug prices in other countries,\u201d the Canadian government wrote in a statement<\/a> in 2024 when Florida\u2019s program won approval.<\/p>\n The drugs\u2019 manufacturers represent, perhaps, a bigger challenge.<\/p>\n Colorado has been trying for years to persuade drug companies to play ball. In 2023 correspondence with the FDA, posted as part of the state\u2019s application documents<\/a>, Lauren Reveley, the state\u2019s Drug Importation Program manager, provided a list of 23 manufacturers the state had contacted to see if they would participate in the import program. None said yes.<\/p>\n Of the 10 manufacturers whose drugs Colorado is now trying to import, eight were included on the list. Three of those eight were a firm no \u2014 a typical response: \u201cViiv Healthcare is not interested in engaging in this program as we maintain a program like this could threaten the integrity of the U.S. supply chain and the safety of U.S. consumers.\u201d<\/p>\n One more just never responded to the state\u2019s emails, while two others answered initially but then ghosted Colorado officials. Another company\u2019s response was listed as pending. And then there was Gilead Sciences, which told state officials that it \u201cwould appreciate the opportunity to speak with you to discuss your inquiry and explain our rationale in greater detail.\u201d Reveley then added the note: \u201cA follow up meeting \u2026 did not result in further negotiation.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Pills](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP18040607756340.jpg\")
In this Friday, July 8, 2016, file photo, a pharmacy technician fills a prescription at a pharmacy, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo\/Rich Pedroncelli, File)<\/p>\n