Rep. Bryan Cutler, R-Peach Bottom, speaks at a 2024 rally in Harrisburg.

Legislation that could help those struggling to afford prescription drugs has advanced out of a House of Representatives committee.

Rep. Kathy L. Rapp, R-Warren and Republican chair of the House Health Committee, said recently the Health Committee has unanimously approved a bill that would expand upon the existing Cancer Drug Repository Program to allow both health care facilities and individuals to donate prescription drugs to the program.

Sponsored by Rep. Bryan Cutler, R-Peach Bottom, the program created by House Bill 69 would ensure safety by requiring donated drugs to meet strict criteria before being accepted under the program, then be donated to those in need. Participation in the program would remain voluntary.

“I applaud the prime sponsor, who was also the sponsor of the current cancer drug repository law, for seeking to improve on this program and expand its scope to cover more prescription drugs and to also increase awareness for this valuable program,” Rapp said. “The program is a win-win. Unused prescriptions can be responsibly removed from homes in which they’re no longer needed, while those in need receive the prescriptions they require without paying a premium.”

Act 14 of 2008 created the Cancer Drug Repository Program to allow health care facilities, hospitals and physicians’ offices to donate unused cancer drugs to pharmacies in an effort to aid low-income cancer patients in getting access to medications. The current program is voluntary and is overseen by the State Board of Pharmacy.

Cutler said he was prompted to draft legislation expanding the repository program as drug prices continue to rise and make it difficult for some people to adhere to their prescription or afford medications, specifically citing the rising costs of insulin and the EpiPen. Cutler’s legislation would expand the existing Cancer Drug Repository Program to allow both health care facilities and individuals to donate prescription drugs other than cancer drugs to the program.

Cutler said donated drugs will meet strict criteria before being accepted under the program. Participation in the program will remain voluntary.

As of 2023, there are 44 states that have enacted laws for donation and reuse of applicable prescription drugs. Georgia’s Good Pill Pharmacy Donated Drug Repository Program has filled more than 796,000 prescriptions, worth more than $64 million, Cutler said, while Iowa’s SafeNetRx Program has served over 123,700 patients and redistributed more than $74.2 million of medication and supplies since 2001. Since 2004, Oklahoma’s Drug Recycling Program has donated over 285,000 prescriptions, worth at least $28.4 million, while Wyoming’s Medication Donation Program began in 2007 and has helped the state fill more than 150,000 prescriptions worth over $44.2 million.

The House Health Committee also passed House Bill 79, a measure that would require the Department of Health to create a uniform form for hospitals to use regarding financial assistance policies. Also, it requires hospitals that have a charity care policy to provide this information to the Health Department so the Health Department can post the information on its website.