Emerson: Reimportation Has "Fighting Chance"

Should the United States permit broad importation of prescription drugs from other countries?

The Associated Press is reporting that legislation to allow reimportation could gain steam in a Democratic Congress, but still probably won't be a priority.

"Members of the House and Senate are gearing up for a renewed push to change federal law and permit broader imports of prescription drugs from Canada and elsewhere, where certain medicines can cost less than two-thirds what they do in the United States. Their hope is the imports will drive down prices at home," writes the A.P's Andrew Bridges.

The A.P. piece includes comments from Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, who supports reimportation legislation.

If and when it does come to the fore, not everyone is taking Democratic support as a given.
"A lot of people say, 'Oh, it's just the Democrats,' but it's not. It depends on where you're from, and who are your constituents," said Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, R-Mo., a key sponsor of previous reimportation legislation.

Still, Emerson says the issue will have a "fighting chance" in the new Congress, even without a veto-proof majority. Others are less sanguine.

Meanwhile, the New York Times is reporting that the drug industry is already on the defensive.