(St. Paul) – Minnesota families are finding their budgets stretched thin due to the rising cost of prescription drugs. Senate Republicans have heard the outcry and have planned a series of listening sessions, including a stop in Bemidji, with the Health and Human Services Committee and local members. The meetings will offer constituents an opportunity to tell their own stories, as well as learn more about two options being considered that would grant Minnesotans access to more affordable Canadian prescription drugs.

“Minnesotan’s across the state continue to struggle with the cost of healthcare and lack of affordable prescription drugs and are looking at places like Canada and wondering why they see such a disparity in pricing between our nations,” said Senator Justin Eichorn (R-Grand Rapids).

“These listening sessions offer us an opportunity to collect input from local residents and learn from their personal experiences while also serving as a platform to introduce new ideas that will drive down costs in Minnesota,” said Senator Paul Utke (R-Park Rapids).

The third of the five listening sessions will take place in Bemidji on November 5with additional stops planned in St. Cloud, and New Prague.

The federal government has recently offered latitude to states looking to obtain cheaper prescription drugs from Canada. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued guidance for prescription drug reimportation programs, which focused on two possible pathways for states to consider. Florida, Vermont, Colorado, and Maine have already passed importation laws, and numerous other states are looking at proposals or have introduced their own bills.

The schedule for the Bemidji event is listed below:

Bemidji
November 5, 2019
Bemidji City Hall
5:30 – 6:30 p.m.