[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 54 (Thursday, April 28, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H2652]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       WASTED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

  (Mr. MURPHY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. MURPHY. Mr. Speaker, imagine this: A person in a nursing home 
receives a prescription for a 90-day supply of medication. A few days 
later, the physician changes that. What happened with those unused 
drugs? They are thrown away.
  Millions of Federal and State dollars could be saved by restocking 
unused prescription drugs that are often thrown away by long-term care 
facilities when a patient changes prescriptions, passes away, is 
discharged or transfers.
  What if these drugs could be restocked and safely used?
  It has been estimated that restocking unused medications may save as 
much as $1 billion among the elderly Americans each year and up to $380 
million in long-term care facilities alone.
  The FDA issued an informal opinion allowing the restocking of drugs 
that meet safety guidelines; however, there is still wide disparity 
between what the States are doing. This confusion is costing the States 
and the Federal Government money.
  Rather than flushing drugs down the drain each month and wasting 
money, I urge my colleagues to work with me and the States on uniformed 
standards for restocking drugs and to examine the new savings that can 
save money, improve lives, and improve health care.
  For further information, I ask my colleagues to check out my Web site 
at murphy.house.gov of ways we can continue to save lives and money.

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