National Summit on Preventing Pharmaceutical Waste
October 19, 2010
University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
Wilson Student Center, 2nd Floor
714-734 South 42nd Street, Philadelphia, PA
AGENDA
Time / Session / Presenters9:00 am / Introductions and Welcome / Andrew Peterson, PharmD, PhD
University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
9:20 am / Purpose of the Meeting
· Introduction to PSI
· Background on the issue
· Focus and goals for the meeting / · Sierra Fletcher, PSI
· Joel Kreisberg, DC, MA
Teleosis Institute
10:00 am / BREAK
10:20 am / Preventing Waste from Unused Prescriptions: Short-cycle dispensing, building co-pays & other options
· Overview of the issue & stakeholder considerations
· MaineCare initial prescription limitation policy
Ø Discussion / · Tracy McCutcheon, MHSA, MBA
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
· Stevan Gressitt, MD
International Institute for Pharmaceutical Safety
12:00 pm / LUNCH
1:15 pm / Preventing Waste from Drug Samples
· Overview of the issue and program experience
Ø Discussion / · Catherine Zimmer, MS, BSMT
Zimmer Environmental Improvement, LLC
2:15 pm / Preventing Waste: Different stakeholders’ perspectives
· Research and potential policy options
Ø Discussion / · Julie Becker, PhD, MPH
Women’s Health and Environmental Network
3:30 pm / Next steps: Are there other strategies to discuss? / Sierra Fletcher, PSI
4:00 pm / Adjourn / Sierra Fletcher, PSI
Thank you to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-Region 3 and Purdue Pharma L.P. for sponsoring the project.
We also thank the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, the Women’s Health and Environmental Network, and the Philadelphia Water Department for generously hosting the meeting and reception.
National Summit on Preventing Pharmaceutical Waste
October 19, 2010
University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
This document is intended to provide an introduction to the topics that will be discussed at the National Summit on Preventing Pharmaceutical Waste.
Focus and Goals
The goal of this meeting is to develop public and corporate policy recommendations to reduce the quantity of pharmaceuticals that are no longer wanted or needed in homes and healthcare facilities. We seek to build on information and policy ideas from around the country and from different perspectives. This meeting is focused on preventing waste by reducing the quantity of drugs that are no longer wanted or needed in homes and healthcare facilities. This meeting will not address issues associated with drug disposal including mail-back or other take-back programs, incineration, or similar topics.
Items for Discussion
I. Preventing Waste from Unused Prescriptions: Short-cycle dispensing, building co-pays & other options
Sometimes a patient will start taking a medication, only to discover that there are unwanted side effects, or that the drug is not providing the intended therapeutic result. However, because of the way co-pays are typically built, patients typically fill a full month or more worth of a prescription even if they do not yet know whether it will work for them. When a patient is taking a maintenance medication for a long period of time, being able to pick up 90 days of a prescription at one time is an added convenience and cost savings, however, for new prescriptions this practice may be contributing to waste.
II. Preventing Waste from Drug Samples
Many pharmaceutical companies offer their branded medications as trial samples to physicians/clinics. The samples are intended for patients to try a new medication for free. Not all companies provide samples, and those that do provide samples only do so for certain drugs. Pharmaceutical samples can offer patients an opportunity to try a new medication without filling a full prescription. They can also provide medications to indigent patents. However, pharmaceutical samples often go unused and expire at the clinic. The retail value of sample waste can be high and ensuring proper disposal of samples is time consuming and expensive.
III. Preventing Waste: Different Stakeholders’ Perspectives
The complexity of the health care “ecosystem” means that making even one change – even one intended to reduce waste – is likely to involve and/or impact many different stakeholder groups. During this session, we will discuss the results of recent qualitative researchabout different stakeholders’ perspectives on a range of ways to reduce pharmaceutical waste conducted by Julie Becker, Ph.D., MPH. Following a brief presentation, we will discuss potential options to reduce over-prescribing and brainstorm other potential policy options warranting consideration of the group.