Colorado has received FDA approval to import lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada, a move state officials said could reduce healthcare costs for residents.
The approval allows the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing to move forward with a plan to import eligible prescription drugs, a move state officials said has the potential to save Coloradans $46 million over three years through lower insurance premiums and out-of-pocket expenses, according to a June 15 state news release.
Colorado has been pursuing the Drug Importation Program since 2019, when the Colorado Legislature passed a bill authorizing HCPF to pursue the strategy. However, state officials said additional work remains before imported drugs become available. Colorado must secure supplies of eligible medications from manufacturers and is seeking federal support to facilitate manufacturer participation in the program.
Florida became the first state to receive FDA authorization for a Canadian drug importation program, winning approval in January 2024. However, Florida’s program stalled nearly a year after receiving the green light due to state officials not submitting the documents needed to move the importation process forward.
Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Texas, North Dakota, Wisconsin and other states have also submitted or pursued similar proposals with the FDA in recent years. Hospital pharmacy groups have raised concerns about such programs, arguing they can undermine the pharmacist-patient relationship and fail to address the root causes of high drug prices in the U.S.
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