Rodriguez’s Bill to Expand Access to Affordable Medication Clears Committee

Legislation would create a drug repository program to facilitate the safe donation and redistribution of unused medications

DENVER, CO – Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez’s, D-Denver, bill to create a drug repository program to facilitate the safe donation and redistribution of unused medications was approved by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee today.

SB24-061 would create the Colorado Drug Donation Program within the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to allow for the donation and redistribution of certain medicines to indigent, uninsured, underinsured, or eligible patients.

“No one should have to choose between paying for life-saving medicine or putting food on the table,” Rodriguez said. “This important bill would allow Coloradans to donate their unopened, unexpired medications to a program that would then donate the drugs to low-income patients who otherwise may not be able to afford critical medication. Creation of the Colorado Drug Donation Program has been years in the making and I’m proud to see it advance today.”

The bill would allow third party providers, hospitals, pharmacies, clinics, health care providers, or prescriber offices to donate unused medications to the program. SB24-061 also outlines record-keeping requirements for donated medicines and the types of medicines that may be donated, which include both prescription and over-the-counter drugs.

Billions of dollars of unused medication ends up in the trash every year. Research shows medication worth over $3 billion is thrown out by hospitals every year, and an additional $2 billion worth is discarded in long-term care facilities.

SB24-061 now moves to the Appropriations Committee for further consideration. Track the bill’s progress HERE.