Procedures for Donation and Dispensing of Unused Over-the-Counter and Prescription Drugs

  1. Law
  2. Georgia Code
  3. Health
  4. Care and Protection of Indigent and Elderly Patients
  5. Drug Repository Program
  6. Procedures for Donation and Dispensing of Unused Over-the-Counter and Prescription Drugs

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  1. Any person, including a drug manufacturer, wholesaler, reverse distributor pharmacy, third-party logistics provider, government entity, hospital, or health care facility, may donate over-the-counter and prescription drugs to the program. The drugs shall be donated to an eligible recipient that voluntarily elects to participate in the program. Nothing in this or any other Code section shall require an eligible recipient to participate in the program.
  2. An eligible recipient may do any of the following:
    1. Accept and dispense donated drugs to eligible patients. Prescription drugs shall only be dispensed pursuant to a valid prescription drug order. Eligible patients who are indigent, uninsured, underinsured, or enrolled in a public assistance health benefits program in accordance with criteria established by the Department of Public Health pursuant to Code Section 31-8-304 shall be prioritized over other individuals;
    2. Transfer donated drugs to another eligible recipient participating in the program or to a drug repository program operated by another state;
    3. Repackage donated drugs as necessary for dispensing, administration, or transfers; and
    4. Replenish drugs previously dispensed or administered to eligible patients.
  3. An eligible recipient that accepts donated drugs shall comply with all applicable federal laws and laws of this state dealing with storage and distribution of dangerous drugs and shall inspect all drugs prior to dispensing them to determine that they are not adulterated.
  4. An eligible recipient may charge a handling fee established in accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the Department of Public Health pursuant to Code Section 31-8-304; provided, however, that any such fee shall not exceed the reasonable costs of participating in the program.
  5. Drugs donated to the program shall not be resold; provided, however, that reimbursement for any fee charged as authorized pursuant to this article by a health plan or pharmacy benefits manager for donated drugs shall not constitute reselling. Nothing in this article shall require a health plan or pharmacy benefits manager to be reimbursed for donated drugs.

(Code 1981, §31-8-302, enacted by Ga. L. 2016, p. 524, § 1/HB 897.)


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