Senate Bill 19-005 Summary

• Establishes the "Dr. Irene Aguilar Canadian Prescription Drug Importation Program" to allow Colorado to import prescription drugs from Canada for resale to Colorado residents, addressing high U.S. drug prices which are estimated at twice the cost of Canadian patented drugs.

• Requires state department approval and federal authorization from the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services under 21 U.S.C. section 384 before implementation; department must submit request by September 1, 2020 and begin operations within six months of approval.

• Restricts eligible drugs to those approved by FDA with expected cost savings, excluding controlled substances, biological products, infused drugs, intravenously injected drugs, inhaled surgical drugs, and parenteral drugs deemed a public health threat.

• Allows only specified eligible importers to participate: Medicaid pharmacies, Department of Corrections, commercial plans approved by federal government, and licensed Colorado pharmacists/wholesalers approved by the state department.

• Requires vendors to conduct laboratory testing for drug authenticity and degradation, maintain compliance with federal Drug Supply Chain Security Act requirements, provide annual audits and financial reports, and maintain $25,000 minimum surety bonds with Colorado as beneficiary.

• Appropriates $1,041,802 for fiscal year 2019-20 to implement the program, including 4.1 FTE for the health care policy and financing department and 0.7 FTE for the department of law.