BILL NUMBER: S7373
SPONSOR: COONEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to establishing under the
direction of the state board of pharmacy a drug repository program to
accept and dispense donated prescription drugs
 
PURPOSE:
This bill establishes under the direction of the state Board of Pharmacy
a drug repository program.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section One adds a new section 6832 to the Education Law to establish
the repository program for the purposes of accepting and dispensing
donated prescription drugs to individuals who are residents of this
state and meet eligibility standards established in rules and regu-
lations adopted by the board. This section also states that only drugs
in their original sealed and tamper evident unit dose packaging shall be
accepted and dispensed. The packaging shall be unopened, except that
drugs packaged in single unit shall be accepted and dispensed when the
outside package is opened if the single unit package is undisturbed.
Drugs cannot be accepted if the expiration date is less than 6 months
from the date the drug is donated or if there is reason to believe it is
adulterated. The language of this section also states that any person
shall donate prescription drugs to the drug repository program and drugs
can be donated at a pharmacy, hospital or nonprofit clinic that elects
to participate in the program. Participation is voluntary. The bill
continues that a donated drug may only be dispensed pursuant to a
prescription issued by a licensed health care professional authorized to
prescribe drugs. Finally, the bill states that in consultation with the
commissioner of health, the state board of pharmacy shall adopt rules
and regulations governing the drug repository program that establish the
following:
* Standards and procedures for accepting, safe storing, and dispensing
donated drug;
*Standards and procedures for inspecting donated drugs to determine that
the original unit dose package is sealed and tamper-evident and that the
drugs are unadulterated, safe, and suitable for dispensing;
* Eligibility standards based on economic need for individuals to
receive drugs;
* A means, such as with an identification card, by which an individual
who is eligible to receive donated drugs shall demonstrate eligibility
to the pharmacy, hospital, or non-profit clinic dispensing the drugs.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The State of Ohio became the first state in the nation to establish a
drug repository program, inspired by the efforts of a resident whose
wife died of cancer, at her home under the care of hospice, with more
than $6,000 worth of unused prescription drugs remaining. After a three
year crusade, his vision of a program to donate unused, sealed
prescription drugs to income eligible residents became a reality in
Ohio. It has been estimated that millions of dollars worth of
prescription drugs are thrown away. This legislation would provide a
safe mechanism to provide those prescriptions to people in need.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-2024: A6051/S7170 - referred to higher education
2021-2022: A1018/55947- referred to higher education
2019-2020: A8615/S3085 - referred to higher education
2017-18: 31655/A2301 - HIGHER ED/higher education
2015-16: S6488/A2622 - Education/higher education
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
One hundred eightieth day after enactment.