S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
371
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
(PREFILED)
January 8, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sen. SKOUFIS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law and the education law, in relation
to creating a wholesale prescription drug importation program
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding a new section
280-d to read as follows:
§ 280-D. WHOLESALE PRESCRIPTION DRUG IMPORTATION PROGRAM. 1. AS USED
IN THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
(A) "WHOLESALE PRESCRIPTION DRUG IMPORTATION PROGRAM" OR "PROGRAM"
MEANS THE WHOLESALE PRESCRIPTION DRUG IMPORTATION PROGRAM CREATED UNDER
THIS SECTION.
(B) "PRESCRIPTION DRUG WHOLESALER" MEANS AN ENTITY AUTHORIZED TO
ACQUIRE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AND SELL OR DISTRIBUTE THEM WHOLESALE IN THE
STATE.
(C) "APPROVED WHOLESALER" MEANS A PRESCRIPTION DRUG WHOLESALER AUTHOR-
IZED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE IMPORTATION PROGRAM UNDER THIS SECTION PURSU-
ANT TO APPROVAL BY THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT UNDER SECTION SIXTY-
EIGHT HUNDRED EIGHT OF THE EDUCATION LAW.
2. THE COMMISSIONER, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCA-
TION AND OTHER APPROPRIATE FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES, SHALL DESIGN A
WHOLESALE PRESCRIPTION DRUG IMPORTATION PROGRAM FOR THE WHOLESALE IMPOR-
TATION OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS FROM CANADA. THE PROGRAM DESIGN SHALL
COMPLY WITH APPLICABLE FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS, INCLUDING 21 U.S.C. § 384,
AND REQUIREMENTS REGARDING SAFETY AND COST SAVINGS. UNDER THE PROGRAM
DESIGN:
(A) PRESCRIPTION DRUGS SHALL ONLY BE ACQUIRED FROM CANADIAN
PRESCRIPTION DRUG SUPPLIERS REGULATED AND AUTHORIZED UNDER THE LAWS OF
CANADA OR ONE OR MORE CANADIAN PROVINCES, OR BOTH;
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00949-01-5
S. 371 2
(B) ONLY PRESCRIPTION DRUGS MEETING THE FEDERAL FOOD AND DRUG ADMINIS-
TRATION'S SAFETY, EFFECTIVENESS, MISBRANDING, ADULTERATION AND OTHER
STANDARDS SHALL BE IMPORTED UNDER THE PROGRAM;
(C) ONLY PRESCRIPTION DRUGS EXPECTED TO GENERATE SUBSTANTIAL SAVINGS
FOR CONSUMERS IN THE STATE SHALL BE IMPORTED;
(D) THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG IS NOT:
(I) A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE AS DEFINED IN 21 U.S.C. § 802;
(II) A BIOLOGICAL PRODUCT AS DEFINED IN 42 U.S.C. § 262;
(III) AN INFUSED DRUG, INCLUDING A PERITONEAL DIALYSIS SOLUTION;
(IV) AN INTRAVENOUSLY INJECTED DRUG;
(V) A DRUG THAT IS INHALED DURING SURGERY;
(VI) A DRUG WHICH IS A PARENTERAL DRUG, THE IMPORTATION OF WHICH IS
DETERMINED BY THE UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
TO POSE A THREAT TO PUBLIC HEALTH;
(E) ANY APPROVED WHOLESALER SHALL AT ALL TIMES COMPLY WITH THE TRACK-
ING AND TRACING REQUIREMENTS OF 21 U.S.C. §§ 360EEE AND 360EEE-1 TO THE
EXTENT PRACTICABLE PRIOR TO IMPORTED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS COMING INTO THE
POSSESSION OF THE APPROVED WHOLESALER, AND FULLY COMPLY WITH THOSE
REQUIREMENTS AFTER IMPORTED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS ARE IN THE POSSESSION OF
THE APPROVED WHOLESALER;
(F) AN APPROVED WHOLESALER SHALL NOT SELL, DISTRIBUTE OR DISPENSE
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS IMPORTED UNDER THE PROGRAM OUTSIDE OF THE STATE;
(G) THE COMMISSIONER MAY IMPOSE AN ANNUAL FEE ON APPROVED WHOLESALERS,
WHICH MAY BE BASED IN WHOLE OR IN PART ON THE VALUE OF PRESCRIPTION
DRUGS IMPORTED BY THE APPROVED WHOLESALER UNDER THE PROGRAM, TO SUPPORT
THE OPERATION OF THE PROGRAM;
(H) EVERY APPROVED WHOLESALER SHALL PROVIDE THE COMMISSIONER AND THE
COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION WITH INFORMATION ON ITS PARTICIPATION IN THE
PROGRAM AS REQUIRED BY SUCH COMMISSIONERS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
(I) THE NAME AND QUANTITY OF THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT OF THE DRUG;
(II) A DESCRIPTION OF THE DOSAGE FORM OF THE DRUG;
(III) THE DATE ON WHICH THE DRUG IS RECEIVED;
(IV) THE QUANTITY OF THE DRUG THAT IS RECEIVED;
(V) THE POINT OF ORIGIN AND DESTINATION OF THE DRUG; AND
(VI) THE PRICE PAID BY THE APPROVED WHOLESALER FOR THE DRUG
(I) THE COMMISSIONER SHALL PROVIDE FOR AUDITING OF THE PROGRAM,
INCLUDING MAKING SURE THAT PRESCRIPTION DRUGS ARE MADE AVAILABLE AT
SUBSTANTIAL SAVINGS TO CONSUMERS AS A RESULT OF THE PROGRAM, ENSURING
THAT THE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS ARE APPROVED FOR MARKETING IN THE UNITED
STATES, MEET ALL LABELING REQUIREMENTS UNDER STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS AND
REGULATIONS, AND IS NOT ADULTERATED OR MISBRANDED, AND ENSURING THAT
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS ARE AUTHENTIC AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE FEDERAL FOOD
AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION'S APPROVED DRUG SPECIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS.
3. THE DEPARTMENT, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE STATE EDUCATION DEPART-
MENT, SHALL PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS TO DESIGN THE PROGRAM IN
ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION.
4. (A) THE COMMISSIONER, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF
EDUCATION, SHALL SEEK ALL NECESSARY APPROVALS AND CERTIFICATION BY THE
SECRETARY OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND/OR
OTHER APPROPRIATE FEDERAL OFFICIALS OR AGENCIES FOR THE WHOLESALE
PRESCRIPTION DRUG IMPORTATION PROGRAM DESIGNED UNDER THIS SECTION.
(B) THE COMMISSIONER SHALL SEEK THE APPROPRIATE FEDERAL APPROVALS,
WAIVERS, EXEMPTIONS, OR AGREEMENTS, OR A COMBINATION THEREOF, AS NEEDED
TO ENABLE ALL COVERED ENTITIES ENROLLED IN OR ELIGIBLE FOR THE DRUG
DISCOUNT PROGRAM AUTHORIZED BY SECTION 340B OF THE FEDERAL PUBLIC HEALTH
SERVICE ACT (42 U.S.C. § 256B) TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WHOLESALE
S. 371 3
PRESCRIPTION DRUG IMPORTATION PROGRAM TO THE FULLEST EXTENT POSSIBLE
WITHOUT JEOPARDIZING THEIR ELIGIBILITY FOR SUCH DRUG DISCOUNT PROGRAM.
5. UPON RECEIPT OF FEDERAL APPROVAL AND CERTIFICATION UNDER PARAGRAPH
(A) OF SUBDIVISION FOUR OF THIS SECTION, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL IMPLE-
MENT THE PROGRAM PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
6. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL IMMEDIATELY SUSPEND THE IMPORTATION OF A
SPECIFIC PRESCRIPTION DRUG OR THE IMPORTATION OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS BY
AN APPROVED WHOLESALER IF THE COMMISSIONER DISCOVERS THAT ANY DRUG OR
ACTIVITY IS IN VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION OR ANY FEDERAL OR STATE LAW OR
REGULATION, AND SHALL IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
OF SUCH SUSPENSION. FURTHERMORE, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL INFORM THE
COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION OF ALL FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES LEADING TO SUCH
SUSPENSION AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE, AND SHALL COOPERATE WITH THE COMMIS-
SIONER OF EDUCATION IN ANY DISCIPLINARY INVESTIGATION OR ACTION PURSUANT
TO TITLE EIGHT OF THE EDUCATION LAW RELATED TO SUCH WHOLESALER.
7. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE CONSTRUED AS AFFECTING OR IN ANY
WAY INTERFERING WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION'S OVERSIGHT OF WHOLE-
SALERS.
8. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ANNUALLY REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR, THE TEMPO-
RARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, AND THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY REGARDING
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A FEDERALLY APPROVED WHOLESALE PRESCRIPTION DRUG
IMPORTATION PROGRAM. THE REPORT SHALL INCLUDE, AT A MINIMUM:
(A) A LIST OF THE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS IMPORTED UNDER THE PROGRAM;
(B) A LIST OF ALL PARTICIPATING CANADIAN PRESCRIPTION DRUG SUPPLIERS,
APPROVED WHOLESALERS, AND OTHER PARTICIPATING ENTITIES;
(C) ESTIMATED COST SAVINGS DURING THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR;
(D) INFORMATION REGARDING AUDIT FINDINGS; AND
(E) ANY OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION.
§ 2. Section 6808 of the education law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 10 to read as follows:
10. PRESCRIPTION DRUG IMPORTATION PROGRAM WHOLESALERS. A. A WHOLESALER
SHALL NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE WHOLESALE PRESCRIPTION DRUG IMPORTATION
PROGRAM UNDER SECTION TWO HUNDRED EIGHTY-D OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW
WITHOUT PRIOR APPLICATION AND APPROVAL BY THE DEPARTMENT.
B. SUCH APPLICATION SHALL BE MADE ON A FORM PRESCRIBED BY THE DEPART-
MENT.
C. SUCH APPLICATION SHALL BE ACCOMPANIED BY A FEE DETERMINED BY THE
DEPARTMENT.
D. ALL APPROVALS SHALL BE RENEWED ON DATES SET BY THE DEPARTMENT.
E. ALL APPROVALS SHALL MEET APPLICABLE FEDERAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS
INCLUDING UNDER 21 U.S.C. § 384, AS AMENDED, AND ANY REGULATIONS PROMUL-
GATED THEREUNDER.
§ 3. This act shall take effect eighteen months after it shall have
become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or
repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of
this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
on or before such effective date.
