Right now, a doctor sometimes uses medications during a procedure at a facility and the patient is often charged for the entire container of medication, even though unused portions are discarded when the patient is discharged. If the medication is needed for care after discharge, the patient is then required to fill a prescription to obtain the same medication for continued care.
 
I will be introducing legislation to address this issue by allowing patients to be discharged with the unused portion of these medications when needed for ongoing care. My bill would cover drugs that are both commonly used for procedures and necessary during recovery, such as drops, ointment or nasal sprays prescribed for dilation, glaucoma, infection and inflammation. Delaware, Illinois and Tennessee have passed similar versions of this legislation. Additionally, multiple medical organizations have supported this type of legislation.
 
This simple change will help our constituents get what they pay for, will reduce increasingly common medication shortages, and will address unnecessary plastic and medical waste. Please join me in co-sponsoring this legislation to make sure patients get the drugs they pay for and need for ongoing care.
 

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 0424: P.L.130, No.48