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HDMA COMMENDS FLORIDA GOVERNOR JEB BUSH FOR SIGNING
H.B. 371
New Law Strengthens Patient Safety, Medicine Supply
Protections Through Strong Chain of Custody Requirements for All
Medicines
Arlington, VA—June 27, 2006 —The
Healthcare Distribution Management Association (HDMA), representing
the nation’s primary, full-service
healthcare distributors, applauds Florida Governor Jeb Bush for
his leadership to enhance medicine safety and help ensure an uninterrupted
supply of medicines for Florida patients. In signing H.B 371, Gov.
Bush has extended proven measures to further enhance the security
of Florida’s
medicine supply and help protect patients from criminal drug
counterfeiters.
“Under H.B. 371, Florida will put in place strong measures that will track
the path of each and every medicine sold in Florida, from the manufacturer to
the pharmacy,” said HDMA President and CEO John M. Gray. “This legislation
was critical to further advance a safe, secure and efficient supply of life-saving
medicines. We thank Governor Bush for his ongoing commitment to prescription
medicine safety, and we look forward to continuing our work with the Department
of Health, law enforcement and our supply chain partners to further improve the
security of the healthcare supply chain.”
H.B. 371, which goes into effect on July 1, 2006, will improve tools for
Florida law enforcement to find, track and prosecute criminal counterfeiters
by requiring comprehensive chain-of-custody pedigrees for all medicines
sold in Florida. H.B. 371 also includes rigorous new data collection
requirements for distributors, which will provide a complete audit trail
that traces each product back to the manufacturer. These records must be
kept, maintained and produced any time they are requested by regulatory
authorities or law enforcement. H.B. 371 also maintains the tough distributor
licensing and law enforcement measures that took effect in 2003, and expands
criminal penalty provisions to make it a felony offense to forge any chain-of-custody
document.
The legislation also includes provisions for the safe and efficient “drop-shipment” of
critical drugs, including life-saving cancer drugs and emergency products
that are required on a time-sensitive basis. Drop-shipped medicines are
sent directly from the manufacturer to the pharmacy, hospital or physician’s
office. Tough new recordkeeping and chain-of-custody requirements
will apply to these medicines, as well.
“HDMA’s primary distributor members safely deliver 50 million
prescription drugs and healthcare products each year to Florida pharmacies,
hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, and physician offices,” continued
Gray. “As counterfeiting can happen at any point in the supply chain,
strong security measures are needed to help manufacturers, distributors, retailers,
law enforcement and lawmakers work together for patient safety. H.B. 371 strengthens
medicine safety and security measures that have worked for more than three
years by requiring a complete and full transaction history for all products
sold in Florida.”
Rep. Ed Homan, M.D. and Sen. Durrell Peaden, M.D. – original sponsors
of the Florida’s 2003 Prescription Drug Protection Act– championed
the new 2006 legislation, as well as more than 130 Florida pharmacies, hospitals,
manufacturers, distributors and other healthcare organizations.
“As a faculty member at the USF School of Medicine and a practicing
orthopedic surgeon, I have a vested interest in seeing that my patients, my
constituents and all Floridians get the safe medicines they need, when they
need them,” said Rep. Ed Homan. “As the sponsor of the landmark
2003 Prescription Drug Protection Act, I can authoritatively say H.B. 371
preserves tough distributor licensing standards and harsh criminal penalties
for counterfeiting, and strengthens current law to help ensure that Florida
patients continue to receive necessary, authentic medicines daily and in emergency
situations.”
About HDMA
The Healthcare Distribution Management Association (HDMA)
and its members are committed to patient safety by delivering life-saving
health products and services through a secure and efficient healthcare
distribution system. These primary, full-service healthcare
distributors are responsible for ensuring that billions of units
of medication are safely delivered -- to tens of thousands of retail
pharmacies, nursing homes, clinics and providers -- in all 50 states.
HDMA and its members are the vital link in the healthcare system
that is responsible for medicine safety, quality, integrity and availability
in the marketplace. Through leadership on public policy and
industry best practices, HDMA and its members focus on providing
value, removing costs and developing innovative solutions to deliver
care safely and effectively. For more information, please visit www.HealthcareDistribution.org.
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