Outdated Medication and Inventory Management
Quality Rx Returns and Affiliated Computer Services (ACS), operating as Xerox-Pharmacy is the Vendor Drug rebate administrator for the Medicaid. This rule proposes requirements to govern the secure disposal of controlled substances by both DEA registrants and ultimate users. These regulations would implement the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-273) by expanding the options available to collect controlled substances from ultimate users for purposes of disposal to include: Take-back events, mail-back programs, and collection receptacle locations. These proposed regulations contain specific language to continue to allow law enforcement agencies to voluntarily conduct take-back events, administer mail-back programs, and maintain collection receptacles. These regulations propose to allow authorized manufacturers, distributors, reverse distributors, and retail pharmacies to voluntarily administer mail-back programs and maintain collection receptacles. In addition, this proposed rule expands the authority of authorized retail pharmacies to voluntarily maintain collection receptacles at long term care facilities. This proposed rule also reorganizes and consolidates existing regulations on disposal, including the role of reverse distributors. This, of course, creates quite the conundrum. If individuals can’t make a good faith effort to return unwanted controlled drugs without a lot of bureaucratic hassle, what should they do with them? Recall the news last year that traces of prescription drugs have been found in the drinking water of an estimated 41 million Americans.11 an Associated Press investigation showed the presence of such drugs as antibiotics, anticonvulsants, mood stabilizers, and sex hormones. In the course of a five-month inquiry, the investigators discovered that pharmaceuticals had been detected in the tap water of 24 major metropolitan areas,...