Nancy Johnson maintains support of pharmaceutical companies despite voting against them

by Christine Moyer

WASHINGTON - Pharmaceutical companies and health-care professionals are two of U.S. Rep. Nancy L. Johnson's most devoted financial supporters, and she often champions their causes in Congress. Nevertheless, Johnson (R-5) has broken ranks with the two groups by supporting a bill that would permit pharmacies to import drugs from abroad.

To the dismay of two of her three largest campaign contributors, Johnson voted in July in favor of the Pharmaceutical Market Access Act, which passed the House 243-186. Johnson was one of only 87 Republicans to vote for the bill, which would allow pharmacies, consumers and wholesalers to import FDA-approved drugs from U.S.-approved plants in 25 industrialized nations.

If it becomes law, the bill could cost American pharmaceutical companies billions of dollars by making available to consumers less expensive prescription drugs. The proposal is part of a negotiation by House and Senate conferees working on a Medicare reform bill. The White House has said it opposes importing drugs.

Though she bucked major contributors, Johnson might have improved her standing among many constituents, particularly senior citizens, who have pressured Congress to reduce the cost of prescription drugs. Connecticut's senior population is slightly higher than that of the nation as a whole, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Brenda Kelley, director of Connecticut's branch of the AARP, said the powerful seniors' lobby supports the importation of drugs as a way to reduce the cost of medication.

Johnson's press secretary, Brian Schubert, said she voted for the Pharmaceutical Market Access Act "so that Americans have better access to prescription drugs."

Johnson, who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee's Health Subcommittee, has supported pharmaceutical companies on another sensitive issue: the creation of a prescription drug benefit for Medicare recipients.

As a result, the companies have maintained their support for Johnson. "We respectfully disagree" on the issue of drug imports, said Jeff Trewhitt, spokesman for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). "But she has mapped out many constructive positions in the Medicare prescription drug bill."

Some doctors and other health-care professionals oppose importing drugs because they say it poses a risk to consumers.

Dr. Donald J. Palmisano, president of the American Medical Association, said the AMA "remains concerned for patients struggling to pay for medications and supports a prescription drug benefit in Medicare. However, re-importation is not the answer.

"A frightening and unintended result of this legislation could easily be expired, sub-potent, contaminated or counterfeit reimported drugs," Palmisano said. "The ramifications of patients' taking these medications could be dire, including dangerous drug interactions and other serious health consequences."

Their disagreement is unlikely to cost Johnson the support of her large campaign contributors.

During the first half of this year, Johnson's three largest donors were health professionals, who gave her $95,399; insurers, which contributed $67,500; and pharmaceutical and health products companies, which gave her $60,250, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, an independent group that monitors campaign contributions. Candidates filed new financial reports with the Federal Election Commission Wednesday, but breakdowns of contributors were not immediately available.

Chris Loder, spokesman for the pharmaceutical company Merck & Co., said that while the industry opposes the importation of drugs, it supports Johnson on other issues. "We look at her entire record," Loder said.

"The vote by the House reflects frustration that seniors can't afford the medicine that they need," Loder added. "We share this frustration."

Doug Mendelson, president of Health Strategies Consultancy, a Washington-based consulting firm, said he is concerned that importing drugs could lead to lower-quality medications and fraud.

"I personally think that it's wrong," Mendelson said of the bill.

In 1987, Congress passed the Prescription Drug Marketing Act, which allowed medications to be imported only in limited circumstances.

The new bill, sponsored by Reps. Gil Gutknecht, R.-Minn., Rahm Emanuel, D.-Ill., and Jo Ann Emerson, R.-Mo., would apply to drugs manufactured in the European Union and 10 other countries, including Australia and New Zealand.