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Cities and States Lead

Springfield, Mass. was the first public jurisdiction to set up a system for re-importation of prescription drugs, in 2003. Since then, city workers and retirees have saved themselves and the city tens-of-millions of dollars by using a Canadian mail-order service. According to AFSCME Council 93 leaders in Springfield, member participation is widespread and satisfaction is high.

Additional cities and states that have explored similar programs or have already put them in place include: Minnesota; Illinois; West Virginia; Iowa; Ohio; Michigan; Vermont (and the City of Burlington); Maine; Wisconsin; Boston, Cambridge, Wooster and Sommerville, Massachusetts; and New York City.

As drug prices continue to soar and drive up the cost of employer-sponsored health care, other jurisdictions are sure to follow.

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