Sec 32-1909. Prescription medication donation program; distribution; immunity; rules

A. Pursuant to board rules and this section, the board shall establish a prescription medication donation program to accept and dispense prescription medications. Prescription medications may be donated at a physician's office, a pharmacy or a health care institution as defined in section 36-401 that elects to participate in the program and that meets the requirements of this section and board rules. Prescription medications shall be accepted or dispensed under the prescription medication donation program only in their original sealed and tamper-evident unit dose packaging. Prescription medication that is packaged in single unit doses may be accepted and dispensed even if the outside packaging is opened if the single unit dose packaging is undisturbed. The program shall not accept a donation of a prescription medication that either:

1. Expires within six months after the donation.

2. Is deemed adulterated pursuant to section 32-1966.

B. A person, manufacturer or health care institution may donate prescription medication to a physician's office, pharmacy, hospital or health care institution that volunteers to participate in the program and that meets the requirements prescribed by the board.

C. A physician's office, pharmacy, hospital or health care institution that participates in the program shall dispense donated prescription medication:

1. Either directly or through participating governmental or nonprofit private entities.

2. Only pursuant to a prescription order.

3. Only to a recipient who is a resident of this state and who meets the eligibility standards prescribed by the board by rule.

D. Before dispensing donated prescription medication, the physician's office, pharmacy, hospital or health care institutions participating in the program:

1. Shall comply with all applicable federal laws and the laws of this state dealing with the storage and distribution of dangerous drugs.

2. Shall examine the donated prescription medication to determine that it has not been adulterated and certify that the medication has been stored in compliance with the requirements of the product label.

3. May charge persons receiving donated prescription medication pursuant to this section a handling fee as prescribed by the board by rule to cover the costs of inspection, stocking and dispensing the prescription medication.

E. A pharmaceutical manufacturer is not liable for any claim or injury arising from the transfer of any prescription medication pursuant to this section including liability for failure to transfer or communicate product or consumer information regarding the transferred prescription medication, including the expiration date of the transferred prescription medication.

F. Persons and entities participating in the program as prescribed by this section and board rules are not subject to civil liability or professional disciplinary action.

G. In consultation with the director of the department of health services, the board shall adopt rules prescribing the following:

1. Eligibility criteria for physicians' offices, pharmacies, hospitals and health care institutions to receive and dispense donated prescription medication.

2. Standards and procedures for accepting, storing and dispensing donated prescription medication.

3. Standards and procedures for inspecting donated prescription medication to determine that the original unit dose packaging is sealed and tamper-evident and that the donated prescription medication is unadulterated, safe and suitable for dispensing.

4. Eligibility standards, based on economic need, for persons receiving donated prescription medication.

5. A means, such as an identification card, by which persons prove that they are eligible to receive donated prescription medication.

6. A form that each recipient shall sign before the recipient may receive donated prescription medication to confirm that the recipient understands the immunity provisions of the program.

7. A formula to determine the amount of the handling fee that a physician's office, pharmacy, hospital or health care institution may charge recipients.

8. A list of prescription medication, arranged either by category or by individual drug, that the program may accept from individuals.

9. A list of prescription medication, arranged either by category or by individual drug, that the program shall not accept from individuals.

10. A form each individual shall sign stating that the donor is the owner of the prescription medication and wishes to voluntarily donate the prescription medication to the program.

11. A list of prescription medication, arranged either by category or by individual drug, that the program may accept from a health care institution.

12. A list of prescription medication, arranged either by category or by individual drug, that the program shall not accept from a health care institution. The list shall include a statement as to why the prescription medication is ineligible for donation.

13. Any other standards the board determines are necessary and appropriate.

H. Notwithstanding any other law, a dispenser of donated prescription medication pursuant to this section shall not submit a claim or otherwise seek reimbursement from a public or private third party payor for the donation and a public or private third party payor shall not provide reimbursement for donations made pursuant to this section.