Governor Janet Mills at a Press Conference in Portland Last Year.

Governor Janet Mills, the first woman governor of Maine, signed into law a comprehensive prescription drug reform package that will permit purchase of drugs from Canada, (with federal approval) as well as many other benefits.

The package contains a suite of proposals from Senate President Troy Jackson, (D-Allagash); Assistant Senate Majority Leader Eloise Vitelli, (D-Arrowsic); and Senator Heather Sanborn, (D-Portland), that would allow the wholesale importation of prescription medicine, create a prescription drug affordability board, increase drug price transparency and better regulate pharmacy benefit managers.

“The outrageous prices of prescription drugs are hurting Mainers, especially older Mainers on a fixed and limited income.  No one should have to choose between food or medicine,” said Governor Mills.  “With this passage of legislation Maine is taking a major step forward in tackling this issue and standing up for Maine people.  I applaud Senate President Jackson, Senator Vitelli, Senator Sanborn, Senator Foley, Representative Prescott, the AARP and others who championed these much needed bills.”

There are four bills comprising this package.

Consumers for Affordable Health Care (CAHC) commends Governor Janet T. Mills for signing a package of bills to address Mainers concerns about rising prescription drug costs.

“We are thrilled the Governor has signed all four bills in this important package of legislation…Maine people are concerned by the high cost of prescription costs with 2 out of 3 worried about not being able to afford prescription drugs or medicine they need.  This bill package takes a comprehensive approach to addressing these concerns,” wrote Ann Woloson, Executive Director of Consumers for Affordable Health Care.