Vermont Submits Concept Paper to Trump Administration to Import Drugs from Canada
Last week, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott submitted a concept paper to the federal government outlining the state’s approach to implementing the first-in-the-nation drug importation law. Earlier this year the Trump Administration announced that it would soon issue rules to allow the importation of drugs and those rules are presently being reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget.
Unlike an earlier submission from Florida that proposes a wholesale importation plan to benefit public programs, Vermont’s plan includes all commercial health plans and is designed to benefit all state residents, not just those on public programs.
Vermont’s approach is similar to those being developed in Colorado and Maine, which approved importation laws last year. Gov. Scott submitted his concept draft now in part to provide the Administration with another model to review as it finalizes its rules.
While the scope of the Florida and Vermont plans differs, there is significant similarity in their detailed approaches to addressing safety issues and implementing wholesale drug importation programs that would reduce the price tag of certain high-cost drugs for their states. Vermont proposes to assure consumer savings through a number of vehicles, including lowering premiums and deductibles, and reducing or eliminating copays on imported drugs.
View slides detailing Vermont’s presentation , and read Vermont’s Canadian Wholesale Importation Program for Prescription Drugs concept paper.
For individuals living with complex, often chronic conditions, and their families, palliative care can provide relief from symptoms, improve satisfaction and outcomes, and help address critical mental and spiritual needs during difficult times. Now more than ever, there is growing recognition of the importance of palliative care services for individuals with serious illness, such as advance care planning, pain and symptom management, care coordination, and team-based, multi-disciplinary support. These services can help patients and families cope with the symptoms and stressors of disease, better anticipate and avoid crises, and reduce unnecessary and/or unwanted care. While this model is grounded in evidence that demonstrates improved quality of life, better outcomes, and reduced cost for patients, only a fraction of individuals who could benefit from palliative care receive it. 
