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Montana News: Cancer Drug Repository Program
Reprinted from the April 2009 Montana Board of Pharmacy Newsletter.
Submitted by Amber Anderson, PharmD Candidate
February 23, 2009
Drug repositories specific to cancer medications and devices have been in place throughout the United States since Nebraska created the original program in 2003. During the last few years, multiple states have followed suit including Minnesota, Colorado, Kansas, and Wisconsin. The cancer drug repository programs accept and dispense costly cancer medications and related products to help eliminate waste and connect patients with products that they desperately need. The program is designed to help patients that are uninsured or underinsured with the costly treatment of their disease. If passed, Montana House Bill 409 will create a voluntary cancer drug repository program. The Montana Board of Pharmacy will be responsible for administering the program, including registering participants and ensuring that they are compliant with the specifications of the law.
The legislation will allow any person or entity to donate drugs or devices to a repository participant so that they can be redistributed appropriately. The most likely participants will be pharmacies, physician offices, and health care facilities. In order to ensure safety, drugs or devices can be accepted and dispensed if the product is in the original, unopened, sealed, and tamper-evident unit dose packaging. If a cancer drug is unit dosed it may be accepted and dispensed if the inside packaging remains intact even when the outside packaging has been opened. Additionally, all donated medication must bear an expiration date that is at least six months following the date of donation.
Participants will be required to store donated devices or drugs separately from other prescription drugs or stock according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Priority will be given to qualified patients in the participant’s service area. The qualifying patient will be notified that they are eligible to receive a donated product before it is dispensed.
Dispensing of donated drugs and products requires adherence to current dispensing guidelines. Donating records must be maintained with the date the participant received the product, the name, strength, and amount, prescription number, expiration date, manufacturer’s name and lot, and the name and address of the donating party. Participants will be responsible for inspecting all donated drugs and devices to determine if they are adulterated or misbranded. Dispensing records must be maintained pursuant to current statute. Participants may charge a small dispensing fee subject to state Board approval.
Further information on current programs and legislation in other states can be accessed at the following Web sites.
Nebraska: www.hhs.state.ne.us/cancerdrugs/
Minnesota: www.phcybrd.state.mn.us/forms/cdrguidelines.pdf
Colorado: www.cdphe.state.co.us/regulations/preventionservices/101510Cancerdrugrepository.pdf
Wisconsin: http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/bqaconsumer/cancerdrugreposy.htm
Please be watching for updates on how your pharmacy or organization can become part of the program and help cancer patients receive the medication they need.
