Do your prescription drugs cost too much in North Dakota?
Do Something about it!
It’s because of you and your interest in cutting the cost of prescription drugs in North Dakota that we are dedicated to taking this issue to a vote of the people in the November 2010 election. North Dakotans for Lower Prescription Drug Prices is a group of North Dakota citizens who are supporting an initiated measure to repeal this unfair law. Here’s how you can help:
1. Call 1-701-323-9910 to learn more about this very important issue.
2. Click on the Donate button at the top of this page and make a contribution to help us spread the message through out North Dakota.
3. Talk to your family, friends and neighbors.
4. Write a letter to the editor or call a radio talk show.
5. Vote to repeal the unfair North Dakota pharmacy ownership law.
Why do Prescription Drugs Cost More in North Dakota?
Part of the problem is a law from the 1960’s that limits the type of stores that can sell prescription drugs — stifling competition between pharmacies and creating a government protected system that drives up drug costs and hurts North Dakotans. North Dakota is the only state in the nation to have a law creating these government-protected pharmacies. Changing this law will:
- Lower prices for many prescription drugs
- Provide more choice and convenience by increasing the number of locations you can purchase your prescription
- Keep more money in North Dakota since families will no longer need to leave the state to find better prices for their prescriptions
- Creating more and better paying jobs for young North Dakotans
North Dakota law provides a corporation may only own and operate a pharmacy in the state if 51% of its shares are owned by a registered pharmacist. This restriction on corporate-ownership of pharmacies was enacted in 1963. The law was initially intended to prevent doctors from owning pharmacies because of a perceived conflict of interest. It was also promoted as a method of protecting public health because only pharmacist-owners would be dispensing prescriptions in the state. North Dakota is the only state with this requirement in the law. Over the years, this restriction on the ownership of pharmacies has withstood both legislative and court challenges, including review by the United States Supreme Court. When the law was initially enacted, certain corporate-owned pharmacies were granted “grandfathered” status and allowed to continue operating in the state. Osco Drug, now CVS Pharmacy, continues to operate in a few locations in the North Dakota. The Osco Drug, corporate- owned pharmacies, have not expanded beyond the existing licenses operated in 1963. Despite this restriction on corporate-ownership of pharmacies, Thrifty White Drug Stores have expanded throughout North Dakota because the stock of that corporation are majority-owned by registered pharmacists. The effect of the law has been to create a corporate monopoly in North Dakota with only Thrifty White Drug Stores allowed to buy existing pharmacies or open new pharmacy outlets. Thrifty White is a Minnesota corporation with its headquarters in Maple Grove, Minnesota. 
The law prohibits retailers like Wal-Mart, Walgreens and Pamida from owning and operating pharmacies within their stores. As a result, discount generic drug programs offered by some major retailers are not available to consumers in North Dakota. For more information on making your prescription drug choices more affordable and to join the campaign to repeal the law, call (701) 323-9910.
