News Releases for May 2004
May 4, 2004
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Hoeven To Testify Before HHS Task Force On Drug Importation
Governor To Push For Affordable Drug Imports For Citizens
BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven will testify on Wednesday, May 5 before a Task Force on Drug Importation convened by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tommy G. Thompson. The group is exploring several areas, including how drug importation might be conducted safely, its potential impact on American patients and medical costs and the development of new medicines. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona is serving as the task force chairman, along with other representatives from HHS and the federal government.
"All along, I have urged Secretary Thompson to make the necessary changes, and I will repeat my message with emphasis in Washington: We need to help our citizens gain access to lower cost drugs in Canada through their local pharmacists," Hoeven said.
The task force members will offer recommendations to Thompson on how best to address the key questions posed by Congress as part of the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003. The legislation directed HHS to complete a study by December 2004 to address a range of issues related to drug importation.
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