Prescription Drug Repository Program - Redirecting Safe Prescription Drugs Pilot Program
Summary
HB1377 establishes the Redirecting Safe Prescription Drugs Pilot Program within Maryland’s existing Prescription Drug Repository Program. The bill directs the Secretary of Health to work with the federal Drug Enforcement Agency and four participating repository drop-off sites registered for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day to separate certain eligible, unopened, noncontrolled prescription medications from collected drugs and redirect them into the state repository system. The stated goals are to expand medication access for underserved populations, reduce pharmaceutical waste, and promote drug safety while preventing diversion.
The pilot requires participating drop-off sites to coordinate with the DEA, package collected medications according to existing state requirements, send controlled substances to the DEA, and transfer eligible medications to a repository for possible dispensing or disposal. The Secretary of Health must report to the State Board of Pharmacy and the General Assembly by October 1, 2027, on the number and types of medications collected and any packaging noncompliance. The act takes effect July 1, 2026, and is temporary, expiring automatically after the pilot period unless later extended by the General Assembly.
Impact
The bill amends Maryland Health-General Article provisions governing the Prescription Drug Repository Program by adding a new temporary pilot focused on redirecting eligible medications collected during drug take-back events into the repository system. It does not change the basic definitions of drop-off sites and repositories, but it operationalizes a new pathway for noncontrolled, unopened prescription drugs to be reused for eligible patients rather than destroyed, while preserving DEA handling for controlled substances. The measure affects the Secretary of Health, the State Board of Pharmacy, participating pharmacies and other drop-off sites, the DEA, and patients who may benefit from donated medications.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial. It passed the House 127-0 and the Senate 34-0, indicating unanimous approval in both chambers. The absence of recorded committee testimony or floor opposition suggests general agreement with the bill’s public-health and waste-reduction goals.
Contention
No major points of contention are reflected in the available record. The main policy considerations implicit in the bill are ensuring drug safety, preventing diversion, and complying with federal and state handling rules for controlled substances and donated medications. Any practical concerns would likely center on packaging compliance, coordination with the DEA, and whether participating sites can reliably identify and transfer only eligible medications, but no formal opposition is shown in the votes or transcript materials.