Amendment #538 to H4400

Drug Repository Program

Representatives Jones of North Reading, Hill of Ipswich, Poirier of North Attleborough, Gifford of Wareham, Frost of Auburn and Smola of Warren move to amend the bill by inserting the following section:-

“SECTION XX. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be a special commission to study and provide recommendations on the feasibility of Massachusetts implementing a drug repository program for high cost pharmaceuticals, excluding Schedule I and Schedule II controlled substances.

The special commission shall examine the implementation of successful drug repository programs in other states and determine the possibility of establishing a similar program in the Commonwealth. The study shall include determine what parties should be permitted to donate medication and develop eligibility requirements for parties receiving donated medication. The special commission shall also examine the types of medication to be included within the program with a particular focus on prescription drugs intended to treat chronic illness and cancer.

The special commission shall also recommend guidelines and regulations to ensure public safety and provide estimates of the potential savings for the program’s consumers. Recommendations from the special commission may include but not be limited to requiring donated medication to be sealed and within the recommended period of shelf life or permitting the return and reuse of medications in approved facilities only.

The commission shall consist of house and senate chairs of the joint committee on health care financing, who shall serve as the co-chairs, the speaker of the house of representatives or a designee; the president of the senate or a designee; the house minority leader or a designee; the senate minority leader or designee; the director of the health policy commission or designee; the commissioner of the department of public health or designee; and the executive director of the center for health information and analysis or designee.

The commission shall submit its report and findings, along with any recommendations, to the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on health care financing, and the clerks of the house of representatives and senate by February 1, 2019.”