THE VILLAGES, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis came to The Villages on Wednesday afternoon to announce a plan to lower the costs of prescription drugs in Florida.
DeSantis said he is working with President Donald Trump to import FDA-approved drugs from Canada, saying the same prescription drugs people buy in Florida are up to 75 percent cheaper north of the border.
"I've heard day in and day out from people who had to pay an awful lot of money for prescription medication. It's also one of the leading drivers of cost for businesses and small businesses," DeSantis said to a room full of seniors.
TRENDING NOW:
- Businesses on Disney's doorstep will get a big paycheck to close up shop
- Second teenage suspect surrenders in shooting that left Oak Hill man paralyzed
- Mother whose baby was found dead in swing with maggot-filled diaper gets life sentence
- WATCH: Man driving semitruck on I-4 arrested in connection with Longwood murder, police say
DeSantis said his plan is legal under a 2003 law called the Medicare Modernization Act, but he said health and human service leaders have denied the law over the last 16 years and refused prescription drug imports.
DeSantis said he plans to make his plan a reality as soon as possible.
WATCH LIVE: Gov. Ron DeSantis in Central FloridaWATCH LIVE: Gov. Ron DeSantis is in The Villages, where his office says he will make a "major announcement." MORE: https://at.wftv.com/2TbTgma
Posted by WFTV Channel 9 on Wednesday, February 20, 2019
The price disparities for these drugs are indefensible and inexcusable. In conjunction with the Trump Administration and the Florida Legislature, I will work to create this program as quickly as possible while ensuring the appropriate regulatory protections are in place.
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) February 20, 2019
After assuming office in January, DeSantis has already made a bevy of announcements, most notibly wanting to end ban on smokable medical marijuana and moving to end Common Core standards in schools.
DOWNLOAD: Free WFTV News & Weather Apps
Not near a TV? Click here to watch WFTV newscasts live
Cox Media Group
