Vendor Safety Criteria
| Safety Criterion | What to Look For |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy licensing | Pharmacies licensed in Canada, UK, or Australia (not unregulated countries) |
| Drug authentication | Verification that drugs are genuine and not counterfeit |
| Cold chain management | Temperature-controlled shipping for biologics and temperature-sensitive drugs |
| Pharmacist review | Licensed pharmacist reviews each prescription before dispensing |
| Drug sourcing transparency | Vendor discloses which pharmacies and countries drugs are sourced from |
Compliance Criteria
Vendor compliance criteria: (1) FDA enforcement discretion — does the vendor operate within the FDA's personal use policy?; (2) HIPAA compliance — does the vendor have a business associate agreement?; (3) state law compliance — does the vendor comply with state drug importation laws?; and (4) legal counsel review — has the vendor's program been reviewed by ERISA and FDA counsel?
Savings Guarantees
IQ Insight
Require savings guarantees from international drug sourcing vendors. A vendor who is confident in their program will guarantee a minimum savings percentage — typically 50–70% compared to US prices. If the vendor cannot guarantee savings, they are not confident in their program. Savings guarantees should be backed by performance reporting that allows you to verify actual savings.