Ron DeSantis Slams Biden, Demands Leadership on Out of Control Drug Prices With Florida Plan to Lower Costs

Republican Governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, slammed President Biden’s leadership this morning, seemingly blaming him for the increase of drug prices in Florida.

“From 2003 to 2020, outpatient prescription drug prices increased from more than $177 billion to approximately $500 billion dollars. Today, we call on the Biden Administration to approve Florida’s plan to lower prescription costs.”

From 2003 to 2020, outpatient prescription drug prices increased from more than $177 billion to approximately $500 billion dollars. Today, we call on the Biden Administration to approve Florida’s plan to lower prescription costs.

Watch live: https://t.co/ijGQDudO6Y

— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) May 28, 2021

In a speech Friday, DeSantis pushed for the Biden administration to approve Florida’s plan to import prescription drugs from Canada. DeSantis introduced this importation program in February of 2019. This program allows imports from Canada of prescription drugs for personal use and would end a prohibition against manufacturers that enter into agreements prohibiting the sale and distribution of imported items.

This kind of program cannot be implemented until the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service certifies that these imported products don’t pose a health or safety risk to American users. The reasoning behind this program is that it would drastically reduce prescription drug prices and would also alleviate the state’s budget that spends so much money on prescription drugs for its state. The state of Florida is still waiting non the U.S. food and Drug Administration’s approval of the program.

Currently, the cost of outpatient prescription drug prices nationwide has skyrocketed since 2003, rising from $177 billion to $500 billion. DeSantis estimates that the state of Florida would cut $80 million-$150 million of spending if this program were to be enacted.

At his event at a drug warehouse in Lakeland, Florida, Desantis said, “We want the Biden administration to approve this. We think if they act immediately, we’ll be able to provide safe and effective drugs to drive down prescription costs here in Florida, and the taxpayer will be able to realize a lot of savings.”

Governor Desantis claims that they have been waiting six months for the Biden administration to approve this plan and mentioned that, without Biden’s approval, regulators could approve it instead. “Obviously, this is not something that big pharma wants to see because it disrupts the – the kind of the current market where we have a restricted market here and artificially high prices,” DeSantis said.

The Governor hammered over and over that his administration is, “ready, willing, and able” to get this program running and believes that the only reason it has not been passed is due to the fact that Big Pharma would be hurt by it. DeSantis is confident that the FDA would approve all these imported drugs saying, “Canada has the same drugs, they have very similar protocols and then we obviously would then have our own process to ensure the quality. So, the safety argument when you’re talking about an advanced democracy like Canada it doesn’t pass muster.”

As DeSantis was fighting for this program, in July of 2020, he tweeted saying, “Lowering the exorbitant cost of prescription drugs has been one of my top priorities since taking office as Governor.”

Lowering the exorbitant cost of prescription drugs has been one of my top priorities since taking office as Governor. Thank you, President @RealDonaldTrump for signing this historic executive order and @RepJoseOliva for working with us at the state level to get this done. pic.twitter.com/oSbSiEKckh

— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) July 24, 2020

Stay tuned to Media Right News for any updates on this drug importation program.