title: Importing prescription drugs: risky business.
abstract: As prescription drug costs continue to soar, some employee benefit plans are looking beyond U.S. borders. This article outlines the regulatory framework governing importation of prescription drugs from foreign countries, additional concerns raised by the fiduciary requirements of ERISA, and significant legislative proposals in Congress that seek to address the issue of the high cost of prescription drugs in the United States.
authors.affiliation: Groom Law Group, Chartered, Washington, D.C., USA.
authors.forename: Lonie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hassel
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Arzuaga
mesh_terms: D003132:Commerce / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D016527:Drug Costs; D004348:Drug Labeling / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000191:economics*; D033161:Government Regulation; D006264:Health Benefit Plans, Employee / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D007880:Legislation, Drug; D017149:Private Sector / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D017150:Public Sector / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration