Maine moves to lower drug prices

Portland Press Herald - Gov. Janet Mills signed a package of bills that aim to reduce prescription drug prices, including one measure allowing the state to act as a drug wholesaler to purchase cheaper medications from Canada.

Mills said the bills she signed into law will help address what she described as “unsustainable” and “intolerable” price increases that force many Mainers to choose between paying for medications or other necessities.

But various aspects of the new laws focused on drug prices and industry transparency will take time to implement. And perhaps the highest-profile component of the package – importing lower-priced drugs from Canada – is contingent on federal approval, which is not guaranteed.

Lowering prescription drug prices has long been a bipartisan issue in Maine, which has one of the oldest populations in the country and a large population of lower-income or fixed-income residents. Each of the bills Mills signed passed with either unanimous or overwhelming support in both the House and Senate.