A measure that would allow Coloradans to import prescription drugs from Canada that would be cheaper than what they pay in the United States won preliminary approval from the state House but it still has a long way to go in the session’s final days.

Senate Bill 5 would create a Canadian Prescription Drug Importation Program under the state Department of Health Care Policy and Financing.

Canadian prescription drugs eligible for importing would have to meet U.S. standards on safety, effectiveness, misbranding, and adulteration. The drug could not violate federal patent laws, and would have to be cheaper than the prices paid in the United States.

Pharmacies and wholesalers that would be eligible to buy those cheaper drugs include Colorado pharmacists, those who provide prescriptions to Medicaid recipients, the state prisons system and wholesalers approved by the state.

If adopted, the program will have to be approved through a waiver granted by the federal Department of Health and Human Services.

The cost to set up the program, about $1 million in 2019-20, was a concern for House Republicans during debate Wednesday.

“I like out-of-the-box thinking,” said Republican Rep. Matt Soper of Delta. But there’s also a lot of “what ifs,” he said, adding that other states like Florida and Vermont are also going down this path and it would be better to wait and see what happens in those states.

“It’s good to be a leader,” but not in this case, Soper added.

Assistant Minority Leader Kevin Van Winkle also applauded the idea, but not the timing, particularly since the program has to obtain a federal waiver. 

The program has checks and balances, said its sponsor, Democratic Rep. Sonya Jaquez Lewis of Longmont.

“This is a great step to reduce the cost of prescription drugs,” she said, estimating the Department of Corrections could save as much as $3 million under the program.

The bill heads to a final vote in the House Thursday and if adopted will need Senate agreement on the amendments.