* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Harris
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
Title
Investigative Hearing - Establishing the Utilization of Unused Prescription Medications Pilot Program in Baltimore City
FOR the purpose of examining the feasibility of establishing the Utilization of Unused Medications Pilot Program in Baltimore City to determine the efficacy of implementing a program statewide to redirect unused prescription drugs to local government pharmacies where the drugs can be re-dispensed to poor persons at no charge.
Body
Recitals
A study published in the Journal of Family Medicine, in 2001, estimates that across the United States approximately $1 billion worth of unused prescription drugs are being thrown away each year. As the cost of prescription drugs reach stratospheric heights, more of the nation's officials and consumers are trying to find ways to stop the waste and, at the same time, to address the needs of those who can not afford life-sustaining medications.
Of the several states, including Louisiana, Ohio, California, Maine, and Washington, that have passed or are considering legislation to allow the redistribution of unused drugs, Oklahoma has the most effective program. The Utilization of Unused Prescription Medications Act was unanimously enacted by the Oklahoma legislature in 2001, to provide for a pilot program in Tulsa County that, after almost 2 full years of accumulated operational experience, was expanded statewide in 2003.
Under regulation of the Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy, the statewide program allows nursing homes, assisted living facilities, drug manufacturers, and individuals to donate unused, unopened, unexpired prescription drugs to participating pharmacies when patients relocate, die, or change medication protocols. A 2000 report from the state Center for Health and Policy Research estimated that recycling unused drugs to the medically indigent could save the state between $2.3million and $7 million annually.
The Maryland Alliance for the Poor 2005 Briefing Book reports that the issues of homelessness, housing, health, hunger, employment, child care, income and taxes are interconnected in the lives of the 1 in 13 Marylanders living at or below the federal poverty level. These families and individuals struggle every day to meet their basic needs. To the 45,500 homeless men, women, and children sheltered in Maryland, the provision of a safety net of public services is critical to survival. Even so, the $482 that a mother and 2 children or the $185 that a single, disabled adult receives per month in cash assistance does not go far when it must cover the costs of rent, utilities, and other life necessities.
Healthcare constitutes a considerable expense for the 43.6 million Americans, including the more than 745,970 Marylanders or 14% of the state's population, who are uninsured. At least 34% of all Marylanders below 100% of the federal poverty level lack comprehensive health coverage, more than 63% of the poor non-elderly adult population do not have health insurance, and among the Marylanders who are so poor that they experience homelessness, as many as 80% are uninsured.
In October 2002, the Maryland MEDBANK Program, funded by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to meet the needs of the under-insured and uninsured, launched the MEDBANK Pharmacy, a central-fill, mail order licensed pharmacy to receive donations of bulk medicine supplies from Pharmaceutical manufacturers and to more efficiently disperse them at no cost to patients that cannot afford them.
In its first 11/2 years MEDBANK distributed about $5 million worth of medicines. The creation of the Utilization of Unused Prescription Medications Program would be a logical extension of the MEDBANK program and would provide for an even greater distribution of unused medicines by expanding the source of medication, beyond that donated by Pharmaceutical companies, to include the large number of unused medications that are currently disposed of by various healthcare facilities across the State.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That this Body will examine the feasibility of establishing the Utilization of Unused Medications Pilot Program in Baltimore City to determine the efficacy of implementing a program statewide to redirect unused prescription drugs to local government pharmacies where the drugs can be re-dispensed to poor persons at no charge.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Honorable Chairs and Members of the Baltimore City Senate and House Delegations to the Maryland General Assembly are invited to take part in the investigative hearing on the Utilization of Unused Medications Pilot Program.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the Honorable Chairs and Members of the Baltimore City Senate and House Delegations to the Maryland General Assembly, the Baltimore City Health Commissioner, the Executive Director of the Maryland Alliance for the Poor, those listed in the Planning Department Directory of Community Associations, the Director of the Mayor's Office for Children, Youth, and Families, the Director of the Mayor's Office of Homeless Services, the Director of the Baltimore City Department of Social Services, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
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