Legislation Pending to Address Drug Shortages - December 6, 2011

Estimates from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration show that drug shortages have tripled over the last several years. Many of the drugs facing critical shortages are life-saving medications relied on by millions. These patients do not have alternatives when prescriptions are terminated. Responding to this crisis, Reps. Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Tom Rooney (R-FL) introduced the Preserving Access to Life-Saving Medications Act (H.R. 2245) earlier this year. The bill, which would prevent or reduce the shortage of life-saving drugs, has yet to make much progress outside of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) also intends to introduce legislation to address this problem, though details from the bill have not yet been officially released. There has been speculation, however, that his bill will include monetary incentives for manufacturers to continue to produce the drugs currently in short supply.

Discussion surrounding this debate has incorrectly implied that the 340B drug discount program has had a hand in some of the shortages. NAPH will closely monitor these discussions and urge Congress to continue to address the shortage issue without unfairly penalizing the 340B program.