First Drug Redistribution Program in State Approved

The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved an ordinance that allows the county to develop a prescription drug redistribution program, the Bay City News/San Jose Mercury News reports. The medicines will be redistributed to low-income county residents.

Only unopened drugs in tamper-proof packages will be accepted for the program, and only county-owned or contracted pharmacies will dispense the medications.

The San Mateo Medical Center will launch a 12-month pilot program at its 64-bed long-term care facility, which could then be expanded to other long-term care facilities in the county, according to Supervisor Adrienne Tissier.

San Mateo will be the first county in California to establish a prescription drug redistribution program. Based on information from similar programs in other states, the county could save more than $1 million annually through the program.

A 2005 law (SB 798) by Sen. Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) permits counties to develop such programs (Bay City News/San Jose Mercury News, 2/28).

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