SB 314: "Wholesale Prescription Drug Importation Act"; enact

This bill would add a new chapter to Georgia's health code creating a wholesale prescription drug importation program run by the Department of Community Health. The department would contract with licensed prescription drug wholesalers and Canadian suppliers to bring lower-cost drugs into Georgia, register health plans, providers, and pharmacies to dispense them, and publish a list of eligible drugs and prices on its website. Only drugs that meet FDA safety standards, don't violate federal patents, are expected to save consumers money, and aren't controlled substances, biological products, infused or intravenous drugs, surgical inhalants, or parenteral drugs could be imported. The department must monitor for anticompetitive activity, audit participating wholesalers, and report yearly to the Governor and General Assembly on savings and participation. The law would only take effect on July 1, 2026, and only if the General Assembly specifically appropriates funding for it before that date.

• Creates a new wholesale prescription drug importation program inside the Department of Community Health to import drugs from Canadian suppliers and licensed drug wholesalers.
• Requires the department to build a registration system for health plans, healthcare providers, and pharmacies to obtain and dispense imported drugs.
• Limits which drugs can be imported, excluding controlled substances, biological products, infused or intravenous drugs, and certain other categories.
• Requires an annual report to the Governor and General Assembly on drugs imported, participation numbers, and estimated cost savings.
• Requires the department to monitor for anticompetitive activity and audit participating drug wholesalers.
• Makes the entire Act contingent on the General Assembly specifically appropriating funds for it before July 1, 2026.

Georgians who buy prescription drugs, the Department of Community Health and its commissioner, the State Board of Pharmacy, prescription drug wholesalers and pharmacies, Canadian drug suppliers, health benefit plans, and healthcare providers such as physicians, pharmacists, dentists, optometrists, physician assistants, and nurses.

If funded and implemented, Georgians could gain access to lower-cost imported prescription drugs through participating pharmacies and health plans, potentially reducing what patients and insurers pay for eligible medications. However, the program only takes effect if state lawmakers set aside specific funding for it, so its practical impact depends entirely on a future budget decision.

• Section 1 names the law the 'Wholesale Prescription Drug Importation Act.'
• Section 3 adds new Code Section 31-8A-1 defining terms like Canadian supplier, prescription drug wholesaler, and health benefit plan.
• New Code Section 31-8A-2 directs the Department of Community Health to design and run the import program in compliance with federal law (21 U.S.C. Section 384).
• New Code Section 31-8A-3 restricts importation to drugs that meet FDA safety standards, don't infringe federal patents, and excludes categories like controlled substances and biological products.
• New Code Section 31-8A-6 requires an annual report to the Governor and General Assembly by December 1 each year on program operations and cost savings.
• New Code Section 31-8A-8 allows agencies to delay implementation if a federal waiver or authorization is needed.
• Section 4 makes the Act effective July 1, 2026, only if the General Assembly specifically appropriates funds for it beforehand.
• Section 5 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-03-03Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2025-02-28Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Jason Esteves (D, SD-35)Primary sponsor
• Harold Jones II (D, SD-22)
• Kim Jackson (D, SD-41)
• Elena Parent (D, SD-44)
• Josh McLaurin (D, SD-14)
• Derek Mallow (D, SD-2)

• prescription drug prices
• drug importation
• health policy
• Department of Community Health
• Canadian drug suppliers