January 22, 2015
ARLINGTON, Va. — HDMA President and CEO John M. Gray applauded the reintroduction of the Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act of 2015 (H.R. 471), introduced today in the House of Representatives. The legislation is sponsored by Reps. Tom Marino (R-Pa.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Judy Chu (D-Calif.)
“HDMA is pleased that this legislation has been reintroduced in the 114th Congress,” said Gray. “Similar to its predecessor, H.R. 4709, which moved quickly through the House last year, this bill will help to create a more robust and transparent process to address the diversion of controlled substances. The main goal of this legislation is to strengthen the relationship between supply chain stakeholders and regulators, and encourage constructive dialogue to help mitigate this serious public health issue. HDMA and the nation’s primary pharmaceutical distributors thank Reps. Marino, Blackburn, Welch and Chu for continuing to champion this legislation, and pledge to work toward its swift passage in the new Congress.”
HDA is the national association representing primary healthcare distributors, the vital link between the nation’s pharmaceutical manufacturers and healthcare providers. Each business day, HDA member companies ensure that over 15 million prescription medicines and healthcare products are delivered safely and efficiently to more than 200,000 pharmacies, hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics and others nationwide. HDA and its members work daily to provide value and achieve cost savings, an estimated $42 billion each year to our nation’s healthcare system.