Montpelier, Vt. – Wednesday, Governor Phil Scott issued the following statement on the Trump Administration’s notice of public rulemaking on the safe importation of prescription drugs:
“We’re encouraged by the continued progress the Department of Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug Administration make towards safe importation of prescription drugs.
“As most realize prescription drugs are a growing cost driver in a health care system that is already very expensive. In Vermont, a basic silver health insurance plan for a family of four who does not qualify for subsidies costs about as much as a brand-new Subaru Cross Trek. For the upcoming plan year, prescription drug costs were a primary contributor to a double-digit rate increase on these already high premiums.
“Prescription drugs are an integral part of health care; they save lives, improve quality of life, and prevent costly health conditions and decline – but that does not mean that Americans should have to pay more for these life-saving drugs than their counterparts in other countries. This is why I appreciate the Trump Administration’s focus on this significant issue for Vermonters’ pocketbooks. My team will be reviewing the proposed rule and providing comment consistent with the concept paper we have already submitted to the Administration.”