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7/5/2022
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New law creates program to redistribute donated and unused prescription medications
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STATE HOUSE — The General Assembly has approved and Gov. Daniel McKee has signed legislation introduced by Rep. Joseph M. McNamara (D-Dist. 19, Warwick, Cranston) and Sen. Joshua Miller (D-Dist. 28, Cranston, Providence) that creates a way to redistribute unused medication to aid people who cannot access or afford their prescriptions.
The act (2022-H 7133B, 2022-S 2207A) authorizes the creation and implementation of a pharmaceutical redistribution program by the Department of Health and the Board of Pharmacy to begin on Jan. 1, 2023.
“Unused medication worth billions of dollars gets thrown out every year,” said Representative McNamara. “Medication will often go unused because a patient’s condition improves, they change doses, or they pass away. Instead of disposing of the unused medicine, people would be able to donate it. By collecting these unused drugs and redistributing them to qualifying individuals, we would be able to increase medication access, especially to underserved populations.”
The program will provide for the redistribution of donated and unused non-controlled substance prescription drugs from facilities to aid Rhode Islanders who have difficulty affording or accessing those drugs.
“Many patients who suffer from cancer and other serious illnesses find it very difficult to afford care,” said Senator Miller. “A drug redistribution program that includes stringent safety measure to protect patients will go a long way toward saving lives while preserving the financial well-being and dignity of many in Rhode Island who cannot afford medication.”
Estimates place the total annual cost of pharmaceutical waste to the American healthcare system at between $75 and $100 billion. Under the new legislation, the program would be voluntary and establish the conditions for donations and redistribution with civil and criminal immunity for persons or institutions acting in good faith.
For more information, contact:
Daniel Trafford, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-1922
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