drug imports

It's our monthly medical roundtable, when we dive into the month's most significant health headlines.

Alex Azar advanced Canadian drug importation as Donald Trump’s secretary of Health and Human Services. Now he chairs the board of a company managing Florida’s importation program.

The FDA said Florida’s program will be authorized for two years. Approval comes after months of wrangling that led to the state filing two lawsuits against the agency.

AHCA Secretary Jason Weida told a state House panel he is “cautiously optimistic” the FDA will approve the plan, which the state has been pursuing since 2019.

Colorado, New Hampshire and New Mexico are also seeking federal permission to import cost-lowering prescription drugs from Canada. President Joe Biden endorsed the approach in his 2020 campaign but has yet to approve any state plan.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Tampa, came after AHCA Secretary Simone Marstiller submitted a Freedom of Information Act request seeking numerous records about importation proposals by Florida and other states.

The Trump’ administration approved a rule in 2020 to help clear the way, but groups including the Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America launched a legal challenge that remains unresolved.

At Gov. Ron DeSantis' direction, AHCA files a friend-of-the-court brief siding with the federal government in a lawsuit filed by a pharmaceutical industry group.

Over the objections of drugmakers, the Trump administration is expected within weeks to finalize its plan that would allow states to import some…

If there’s one area of health care where Republicans and Democrats might strike a deal, it’s prescription drugs. President Donald Trump has floated a plan…