Drug Importation in New Mexico: An Overview
Synopsis:
In March 2020, the Governor of New Mexico signed SB1, a bill which creates a "wholesale prescription drug importation program" to be administered by New Mexico's Department of Health.
New Mexico published the draft of its application to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and submitted the final version to HHS in December 2020. Consult PSM's analysis on the right to learn more about their proposed plans.
Official actions and statements
- Legislative Health and Human Services Committee meeting, August 11, 2022 update: recording | slides (.pdf)
- Submitted final application in December 2020.
- Released draft application to U.S. HHS, October 28, 2020
- Governor Lujan Grisham signed SB1 into law March 4, 2020
- Bill introduced to the New Mexico Senate January 15, 2020
Planning documents
News
- N.M. May Get Med Imports From Canada Under Trump Order, September 25, 2020
"An outline of the program must be submitted by Dec. 15 to the U.S. Health and Human Services Department, Morgan said, adding that the public will have a chance to comment on the program before then."
Op-eds from the Experts
It isn’t just policymakers who believe drug importation will open the U.S. drug supply to counterfeits. In this editorial, published in the Times of Northwest Indiana on March 6, 2019, HIV-positive advocate Brandon Macsata explains that his own physician objected to ordering medicine from Canadian online pharmacies:
“It never crossed my mind that I might have been taking counterfeit medicine, or that the medicines meant to control my HIV could be compromising my immune system. So when my doctor found out, she told me to stop immediately. She warned me that online pharmacies often sell counterfeit drugs.”
The Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA) and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) have issued a joint statement in opposition to U.S. federal legislation authorizing personal and commercial importation of prescription drugs from Canada.
“While we recognize the desire to address affordability issues in the U.S.,” they write, “we strongly oppose the importation of prescription drugs from Canada because of the risks these policies pose to patient safety and
continuity of care.”
In this
PSM's Analysis of New Mexico's Application
New Mexico's October 2020 draft application was very close to its final submission in December
To get up to speed:
- Read "What is Drug Importation?," a short primer and guide to keeping New Mexico residents safe and learning the myths of Canadian drug importation.
- Catch up on our analysis:
Watch our video and read the accompanying blog to hear our analysis of New Mexico's draft application.
PSM Coverage:
On Tuesday, December 2, 2020, New Mexico conducted their one and only public hearing on their plan to import medicine from Canada (over Canada’s objections). While the hearing was largely a formality, there was some interesting testimony.
The state of New Mexico released a draft of its Canadian drug importation plan. PSM analyzed the plan, paying particular attention to concerns pharmacists might have about how drug importation might affect their patients and business…
The New Mexico Pharmacists Association recently sent their own letter to members of Congress expressing their concerns about allowing drug importation. PSM had the chance to speak with their executive director to learn more about the realities and misconceptions that people have about prescription drugs and drug importation…
Additional Resources:
Recent Statements Opposing Canadian Drug Importation
- American Pharmacists Association
- Canadian Pharmacists Association
- American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
- Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists
- National Association of Boards of Pharmacy
- Canadian Association for Pharmacy Distribution Management
Prescription Drugs in Wyoming, Evaluating State Policy Options For Lowering Costs (October 1, 2020)
The Wyoming Department of Health concluded that it is "virtually impossible to guarantee that consumers will actually see savings, particularly in the case of Canadian drug importation. Basic economics also suggests fundamental problems with this plan that make it unsustainable in the long-run."