Florida lawmakers press federal agencies over new mail rule for prescription drugs

Seven Florida members of Congress are pressing federal agencies to explain a new Customs and Border Protection mail rule that could block Americans from receiving lower-cost prescription medications from licensed Canadian and international pharmacies. The policy change, set to take effect Oct. 22, has alarmed patient advocates who say it could hit seniors, uninsured people and others who depend on mailed prescriptions.

Why it matters: - The new CBP mail rule could make it much harder for Americans to get lower-cost prescription drugs by mail for personal use. - Patient advocates say the change could leave people who rely on licensed Canadian pharmacies facing higher U.S. retail prices or going without daily medications. - The issue is especially acute for Floridians, who generally cannot travel to Canada to fill prescriptions in person.

What happened: - Seven Florida House members from both parties pressed federal agencies over the rule and asked for answers before the policy takes effect. - Republican Reps. Aaron Bean, Gus Bilirakis and C. Scott Franklin sent a Sept. 24 letter to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., CBP Commissioner Rodney S. Scott and Acting FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamantas. - Democratic Reps. Lois Frankel, Maxwell Frost, Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Frederica Wilson joined 71 House Democrats in a separate letter sent today to the same officials. - CPPI applauded the bipartisan pressure and said the letters show growing concern about access to affordable prescriptions.

The details: - CBP’s rule, titled "Indefinite Suspension of the De Minimis Exemption for Mail Shipments and New Postal Informal Entry," takes effect Oct. 22. - Under the rule, each prescription mailed from abroad would need a formal customs entry filed by a licensed customs broker and backed by a financial guarantee. - CPPI has been advised that shipping personal prescriptions into the U.S. will be prohibited in almost all circumstances once the rule is carried out by CBP and FDA. - The Republican lawmakers said the rule "will inadvertently impact our constituents and millions of other Americans' access to safe, affordable medications sourced through Canadian and International pharmacies." - The lawmakers asked whether CBP and FDA will protect Americans' ability to order prescriptions from licensed international pharmacies for personal use by mail. - The lawmakers also asked whether CBP has changed its Oct. 2006 policy of not blocking these personal shipments. - The Democratic letter urged the agencies to delay the new procedures unless they can assure that personal-use prescriptions that do not present an unreasonable risk will still be allowed into the country. - The Democratic lawmakers requested a response by Oct. 8. - CPPI said more than two decades of mailed access from licensed pharmacies in Canada has served as a lifeline for seniors, uninsured people and underinsured people. - CPPI also provided more information on safe importation and invited people to join the effort for free.

Between the lines: - The bipartisan push suggests lawmakers see the rule as a consumer-access issue, not just a customs policy change. - The fight highlights a long-running tension between drug importation rules and Americans' efforts to lower prescription costs. - The letters signal that Congress wants federal agencies to clarify whether the rule is narrower than critics fear.

What's next: - Federal agencies are expected to respond to the Republican letter by Oct. 2. - The Democratic lawmakers asked for a response by Oct. 8. - The policy change is scheduled to take effect Oct. 22 unless agencies revise, delay or clarify how the rule will be enforced. - CPPI says it will keep pressing for continued access to safe, affordable prescription medications from licensed pharmacies abroad.

The bottom line: - A coming customs rule could disrupt a long-standing route to cheaper prescription drugs for millions of Americans, and Florida lawmakers are now pushing federal officials to stop that from happening.