Posted At PRNEWSWIRE

BY : Advocate.com Staff

While supporters of drug importation contend that seniors will save money on prescription drugs by ordering them from Canada, a recent AARP investigation comparing drug importation and the new Medicare drug benefit finds that claim is not always valid. The results of the investigation ("The New Medicare Math: Cheaper than Canada? The Drug Benefit May be a Better Deal") published in this month's AARP Bulletin found that "many who choose the least expensive Medicare drug plan that covers all their drugs could pay less this year than if they got those same drugs from Canada."

The AARP investigation into cost savings took into account all out-of-
pocket costs under a Medicare plan through 2006, including premiums,
deductibles and co-payments. Seniors should not only consider the costs associated with their prescription drugs, but also the source of their medicines and if they are indeed safe. Under Medicare, community pharmacists are available to assure seniors that the drugs they receive meet all necessary state and federal requirements. Safety is a paramount concern following a recent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sting operation conducted at several major airports in August 2005 that revealed the continuing dangers associated with drug importation. The sting found that nearly half of the imported drugs intercepted from four countries were shipped to fill orders that consumers believed they were placing with "Canadian" pharmacies. Eighty-five percent of the drugs promoted as "Canadian" actually came from 27 countries around theglobe, while a number of these products were also found to be counterfeit

Ron Fitzwater, Chief Executive Officer of the Missouri Pharmacy Association (MPA) says the AARP investigation and the FDA sting provide
further evidence that the new Medicare drug benefit, not drug importation, is the answer to lower drug prices for America's seniors."Now that the enrollment period is underway and coverage under the Medicare Prescription Drug Program has begun, it is vitally important that seniors understand the tremendous savings associated with this new benefitprogram" said Fitzwater. "As the recent findings from AARP conclude, seniorsno longer have to take unnecessary safety risks by importing drugs frompotentially dangerous foreign sources in an attempt to save money on theirprescription drugs. Safety and real cost savings are now offered by Medicare,and I encourage seniors to review all the options and choose a plan that bestfits their needs. Missouri pharmacists are committed to helping our state'sseniors receive the safest and most efficient medicines available."

The Missouri Pharmacy Association was organized 125 years ago to serve the profession of pharmacy and its members. The Missouri Pharmacy Association is a committed group of professional pharmacists with high standards and goals, both for themselves, their profession and the professional ideas for which pharmacy stands. The association ensures that pharmacists' voices are heard and that the pharmacy's interests are protected so that both the professionand the public may have the best in pharmacy care and service.