AB68,2912 Section 2912. 601.575 of the statutes is created to read:

AB68,1493,2 601.575 Prescription drug importation program. (1) Importation program requirements. The commissioner, in consultation with persons interested in the sale and pricing of prescription drugs and appropriate officials and agencies of the federal government, shall design and implement a prescription drug importation program for the benefit of residents of this state, that generates savings for residents, and that satisfies all of the following:

AB68,1493,5 (a) The commissioner shall designate a state agency to become a licensed wholesale distributor or to contract with a licensed wholesale distributor and shall seek federal certification and approval to import prescription drugs.

AB68,1493,8 (b) The prescription drug importation program under this section shall comply with relevant requirements of 21 USC 384, including safety and cost savings requirements.

AB68,1493,11 (c) The prescription drug importation program under this section shall import prescription drugs from Canadian suppliers regulated under any appropriate Canadian or provincial laws.

AB68,1493,14 (d) The prescription drug importation program under this section shall have a process to sample the purity, chemical composition, and potency of imported prescription drugs.

AB68,1493,18 (e) The prescription drug importation program under this section shall import only those prescription drugs for which importation creates substantial savings for residents of the state and only those prescription drugs that are not brand-name drugs and that have fewer than 4 competitor prescription drugs in the United States.

AB68,1493,21 (f) The commissioner shall ensure that prescription drugs imported under the program under this section are not distributed, dispensed, or sold outside of the state.

AB68,1493,23 (g) The prescription drug importation program under this section shall ensure all of the following:

AB68,1493,25 1. Participation by any pharmacy or health care provider in the program is voluntary.

AB68,1494,2 2. Any pharmacy or health care provider participating in the program has the appropriate license or other credential in this state.

AB68,1494,5 3. Any pharmacy or health care provider participating in the program charges a consumer or health plan the actual acquisition cost of the imported prescription drug that is dispensed.

AB68,1494,9 (h) The prescription drug importation program under this section shall ensure that a payment by a health plan or health insurance policy for a prescription drug imported under the program reimburses no more than the actual acquisition cost of the imported prescription drug that is dispensed.

AB68,1494,12 (i) The prescription drug importation program under this section shall ensure that any health plan or health insurance policy participating in the program does all of the following:

AB68,1494,14 1. Maintains a formulary and claims payment system with current information on prescription drugs imported under the program.

AB68,1494,17 2. Bases cost-sharing amounts for participants or insureds under the plan or policy on no more than the actual acquisition cost of the prescription drug imported under the program that is dispensed to the participant or insured.

AB68,1494,20 3. Demonstrates to the commissioner or a state agency designated by the commissioner how premiums under the policy or plan are affected by savings on prescription drugs imported under the program.

AB68,1494,23 (j) Any wholesale distributor importing prescription drugs under the program under this section shall limit its profit margin to the amount established by the commissioner or a state agency designated by the commissioner.

AB68,1495,3 (k) The prescription drug importation program under this section may not import any generic prescription drug that would violate federal patent laws on branded products in this country.

AB68,1495,8 (L) The prescription drug importation program under this section shall comply to the extent practical and feasible, before the prescription drug to be imported comes into the possession of the state's wholesale distributor and fully after the prescription drug to be imported is in the possession of the state's wholesale distributor, with tracking and tracing requirements of 21 USC 360eee to 360eee-1.

AB68,1495,11 (m) The prescription drug importation program under this section shall establish a fee or other mechanism to finance the program that does not jeopardize significant savings to residents of the state.

AB68,1495,13 (n) The prescription drug importation program under this section shall have an audit function that ensures all of the following:

AB68,1495,16 1. The commissioner has a sound methodology to determine the most cost-effective prescription drugs to include in the importation program under this section.

AB68,1495,18 2. The commissioner has a process in place to select Canadian suppliers that are high quality, high performing, and in full compliance with Canadian laws.

AB68,1495,20 3. Prescription drugs imported under the program are pure, unadulterated, potent, and safe.

AB68,1495,22 4. The prescription drug importation program is complying with the requirements of this subsection.

AB68,1495,25 5. The prescription drug importation program under this section is adequately financed to support administrative functions of the program while generating significant cost savings to residents of the state.

AB68,1496,2 6. The prescription drug importation program under this section does not put residents of the state at a higher risk than if the program did not exist.

AB68,1496,4 7. The prescription drug importation program under this section provides and is projected to continue to provide substantial cost savings to residents of the state.