| Due to unchecked increases in | | | | million dollar plan to allow state |
| prescription drug costs, the governors | | | | residents to purchase their prescription |
| and legislatures of many states now | | | | medication from Canada and other foreign |
| advocate importing prescription | | | | countries. In addition to the new plan, |
| medications from Canada. Several states | | | | the Oklahoma state government has met |
| have even started Web sites for their | | | | with several Canadian pharmacies to |
| citizens to order from approved Canadian | | | | examine different ways that Oklahomans |
| pharmacies. These states include: | | | | can save money by importing prescription |
| 1. Illinois | | | | drugs. |
| Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) has been a | | | | 6. Rhode Island |
| leading advocate of legalizing | | | | Rhode Island, led by Gov. Donald |
| prescription medications from Canada, | | | | Carcieri (R), has placed links to |
| the United Kingdom, and Ireland. He | | | | Canadian Web sites on its state Web site |
| created the program Illinois Rx Cares in | | | | as well as developing a Web site called |
| order to provide monetary relief to | | | | RIRx for state residents to purchase |
| senior citizens who fell into the donut | | | | discount medications from Canadian and |
| hole of prescription medication | | | | other foreign pharmacies. Rhode Island |
| coverage, as well as others who struggle | | | | purchases Canadian drugs for state |
| to afford their prescription | | | | employees and retirees. Rhode Island |
| medications. The Illinois Rx Cares | | | | also passed a law that allows the state |
| program helps locate and aid its users | | | | department of health to license Canadian |
| in purchasing prescription medication | | | | pharmacies. Secretary of state Matt |
| from safe and affordable Canadian | | | | Brown also announced a new plan called |
| pharmacies. | | | | RIMEDS that lets residents find discount |
| 2. Kansas | | | | prescription medication online and by |
| Since Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D) took | | | | phone. |
| office in 2003, she has drastically | | | | 7. Washington |
| lowered the cost of healthcare for | | | | Gov. Christine Gregoire (D) has |
| Kansans by joining the I-Save RX | | | | partnered with Wisconsin in creating a |
| program, which has made it easier for | | | | state-sponsored Web site, to order |
| citizens of her state to get low-cost | | | | prescription drugs from Canada. The |
| medications from both Canada and Europe. | | | | state house in Washington also passed |
| She has also listed links to several | | | | legislation to allow certain certain |
| state-inspected Canadian pharmaceutical | | | | state agencies to purchase prescription |
| resources on state Web sites. | | | | drugs from Canadian pharmacies and |
| 3. Minnesota | | | | wholesalers. |
| Minnesota's Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) | | | | 8. Vermont |
| developed one of the nation's leading | | | | The governor of Vermont, Jim Douglas |
| prescription drug Web sites, RXConnect, | | | | (R), traveled to Washington D.C. to |
| which allows Minnesotans to access more | | | | testify before the Federal Drug Task |
| affordable prescription medication found | | | | Force on Drug Reimportation to persuade |
| in both Canada and the United Kingdom. | | | | the federal government to allow states |
| He also implemented a program that | | | | to pursue all safe means of lower the |
| offers incentives to state employees who | | | | cost of prescription medication. |
| order their prescription medication | | | | Vermont's department of personnel has a |
| online from Canadian pharmacies. | | | | link to Minnesota's website, RXConnect. |
| 4. New Hampshire | | | | Gov. Douglas has also worked with |
| New Hampshire has implemented a new | | | | lawmakers to allow the purchase of |
| policy to import prescription | | | | American-made drugs sold in foreign |
| medications for prison inmates and state | | | | countries. Vermont's House of |
| employees from Canadian pharmacies. Gov. | | | | Representatives voted 129 to 8 to allow |
| John Lynch (D) has expressed his support | | | | its state's residents to purchase |
| of the program and plans to further | | | | lower-cost prescription medications from |
| extend the program to help more citizens | | | | Canada and Europe through the I-Save RX |
| in New Hampshire. | | | | program. |
| 5. Oklahoma | | | | 9. |
| Gov. Brad Henry has proposed a $1.5 | | | | |