Supervisor Proposes Prescription Redistribution Program
San Mateo County is considering a proposal to provide unused medicines at no cost to low-income patients, the San Francisco Examiner reports.
The ordinance, by Supervisor Adrienne Tissier, would create a program beginning with 64 beds at San Mateo Medical Center that could be expanded to the county's long-term care facility. The SMMC pharmacy would be in charge of redistributing the drugs.
Hospital spokesperson Dave Hook said only prepackaged, unexpired medicines would be redistributed. Controlled substances, including sleeping pills and pain killers, would not be used in the program, according to officials.
Tissier said savings under the program could be substantial if private nursing facilities agree to participate after the year-long trial.
The county Board of Supervisors will vote on the ordinance Feb. 28. If approved, progress reports on the program would be required every six months (Carpenter, San Francisco Examiner, 2/16).