HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3000        FILED ON: 1/18/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2001

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Louis L. Kafka

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to the availability of prescription medication during an emergency.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Louis L. Kafka

8th Norfolk

 

Michael J. Moran

18th Suffolk

2/1/2013

John H. Rogers

12th Norfolk

 

Stephen L. DiNatale

3rd Worcester

 

James J. Dwyer

30th Middlesex

 

Colleen M. Garry

36th Middlesex

 

Christine E. Canavan

10th Plymouth

 

Paul R. Heroux

2nd Bristol

 

Kay Khan

11th Middlesex

 


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3000        FILED ON: 1/18/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2001

By Mr. Kafka of Stoughton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2001) of Louis L. Kafka and others relative to the availability of prescription medications during an emergency.  Public Health.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

_______________

 

An Act relative to the availability of prescription medication during an emergency.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Section 1: Section 2A of Chapter 17 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the second paragraph the following paragraph:-

The commissioner shall implement the statewide plan for making prescription drugs available during a state of emergency pursuant to section 225 of chapter 111. 

Section 2: Chapter 111 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 224 the following section:-

Section 225. Prescription medication during an emergency

The department shall, in cooperation with the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Pharmacy, Division of Insurance, and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, develop and publicize a statewide plan for ensuring the availability of prescription medications during a state of emergency declared by the governor, that is detrimental to the public health.  Such plan shall include, but not be limited to;

(a) allowance for early refills of prescriptions, if the current amount that a patient possesses is not expected to last beyond 10 days of the date of the declaration of emergency.

(b) ensuring that vehicles delivering medications to pharmacies and hospitals be given the same road access available to other emergency vehicles.

(c) ensuring that the system does not create a duplicate/redundant supply chain infrastructure.

(d) coordination among pharmaceutical manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, pharmacists, and other industry stakeholders.

(e) creation of a safety net system including a toll-free number (Voice and TTY) and an internet location for citizens to contact during the emergency for assistance in locating prescription medication, in the event no medications are available to them locally.