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Maryland County Looks North For Drugs
by Chloe Albanesius
Maryland's Montgomery County is the latest jurisdiction to consider purchasing prescription drugs from Canada for the county's employees. The county's council on Tuesday voted unanimously to appoint an existing task force currently studying employee benefits to report to the council early next year with its recommendations on the topic.
"There could be a 40 [percent] to 50 percent savings," said Dan Parr, chief of staff for the resolution's sponsor, Democratic Councilman Tom Perez.
Parr said the county currently spends $60 million on prescription drugs each year; a final estimate on savings by buying Canadian drugs would be "dependent on [employee] participation," he said. "This is obviously a current national issue and we get lots of calls from people who have issues with healthcare and prescription drug costs," Parr said.
Montgomery County is proceeding with the investigation since the Food and Drug Administration "made a statement that it would not prosecute jurisdictions" that look into buying prescription drugs from abroad, despite concerns over safety, Parr said.
The FDA has been vocal in its opposition to importing drugs, as have U.S.-based pharmaceutical companies. "Dispensing medication based on a prescription written by a physician who has not seen the patient or conducted a physical exam is contrary to medical-practice standards," William Hubbard, the FDA's associate commissioner for policy and planning, told Congress in June.
But Parr said of his county's decision: "In [our] current fiscal crisis ... you can't wait for national decisions to be made. We believe the people in Canada have a very safe medical system."
Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota have explored the option of buying drugs through Canada for state employees, as have two communities in Massachusetts. The office of Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich did not return calls by press time about whether the state has considered the option.
Think Tank To Train Regulators
The Progress and Freedom Foundation (PFF) on Thursday unveiled a program designed to give the state regulatory community more educational and professional training in law and economics.
Beginning in May 2004, the Institute for Regulatory Law and Economics will host two dozen state regulatory commissions at Colorado's Aspen Meadows conference center for four days of seminars and lectures on topics such as antitrust policy and the program that seeks to guarantee all Americans access to affordable communications services and antitrust policy.
On the topic of universal communications service, "the focus will be on the underlying economic principles and logic of the program," said Ray Gifford, PFF president and former chairman of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission. "The goal will be to discuss [the program] or competition ... in the context of what enhances and what impedes consumer welfare."
"The antitrust portion will focus on the economic analysis and logic of current antitrust doctrine and how that compares with the same in the administrative-regulatory side," he added.
The faculty will include former FCC officials, including Chief Technologist Dale Hatfield, Chief Economist Howard Shelanski, and Doug Sicker, once a chief of the network technology division. The 2002 Nobel Laureate for economics, Vernon Smith, also will participate.
All sitting utility commissioners are eligible to apply until the Jan. 15 deadline. Selection will be based on "professional contributions to the understanding of closely regulated network industries," according to a brochure.
Gov. Locke Praises Washington Web Site
Washington Gov. Gary Locke on Wednesday highlighted the state's recent advances in e-government, with a focus on the online efforts of the Licensing Department.
The department recently surpassed its 1-millionth online transaction after two-and-a-half years, 500,000 of which were completed in the last 8 months. Washington residents can use the Web site to renew licenses and apply for or renew business licenses, among other options.
Locke also praised Licensing for streamlining the state's permit process. Business applicants now can fill out just one application to register with all necessary state agencies. Locke last year ordered that the department expand the program to include cities; Richland, Bellevue, Tumwater and Sammamish have been connected since then.
"Virtually every state agency has developed new ways to reduce or eliminate wait times at state offices and streamline permitting processes for businesses," Locke said in a release. "We're doing it through customer-friendly technology."
Elsewhere on the e-government front, the Kentucky Revenue Cabinet on Wednesday chose Entrust to secure employee laptops that contain sensitive taxpayer information. The portable computers of cabinet auditors and field representatives now will include highly secure encryption and two-factor authentication.
And in the Washington, D.C., area, the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority awarded DigitalNet a five-year, $29.5 million information systems services contract. DigitalNet will provide support services to local-area networks and help-desk support to 1,300 user accounts at authority headquarters, Washington Dulles International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Virginia Gets Funds For Assistive Technology
Virginia's Assistive Technology Loan Fund Authority on Wednesday received two grants totaling $7.5 million from the Education Department.
The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research received $4.9 million in federal funds to provide loans for disabled Virginians to buy assistive technology devices and services. And the Rehabilitative Services Administration received $2.5 million for telework and telecommuting loans. Virginia provided the additional 20 percent in matching funds.
"This money will provide additional funding for low-interest loans and loan guarantees to Virginians with disabilities for equipment and technology that increase independence, quality of life and employment opportunities," Virginia Gov. Mark Warner said in a release.
In Rhode Island, meanwhile, Gov. Don Carcieri on Tuesday launched the state's Scholars Program, aimed at emphasizing math and science as integral parts of high-school curricula.
North Dakotans Warned About E-Mail Scam
A new version of an e-mail scam is circulating in North Dakota, according to state Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem.
Targeted e-mail users are receiving messages with "US Army" or "US Troops" in the subject line, with return addresses apparently from members of the U.S. military. The text of the e-mail says the troops have uncovered Iraqi treasure and need help transporting it back to the states, and the e-mail then offers money for help in diverting the items.
"It is absolutely ridiculous to think that U.S. military troops would be involved in a scheme to defraud the Iraqi government by diverting treasure out of the country," Stenehjem said in a release. "The e-mail is a pathetic and laughable attempt to scam the consumer."
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