Illinois has developed a program to increase access to medication for state residents. The Illinois Drug Reuse Opportunity Program Act (I-DROP) was signed into law in 2021.
I-DROP details the legal process for donating unused medication for repurposing. The United States throws out an estimated $5 billion dollars’ worth of viable medications annually. Since this program is built on donations, these discarded medications can be provided at little to no cost to patients. The bill includes clear criteria on what medications are eligible for donation, ensuring the drugs are unopened and unadulterated.
The bill also aims to address barriers to medication access that result from a variety of factors, including drug shortages, high cost, and lack of education on options. Shortages and high prices are intertwined, and cancer drugs among the top five drug classes most vulnerable to shortages. For cancer patients, the average out-of-pocket cost in 2003 was $1500 for those with private insurance. For patients who do not have private insurance or are underinsured, high drug costs can be devastating, even life-threatening. Better education about ways to mitigate drug costs or unavailability can help to prevent drug waste.
Building on I-DROP’s success in addressing these issues, this year Illinois signed into law House Bill 2346, which strengthens the program by boosting awareness of the program and making it easier for institutions and the public to participate. The Illinois Department of Public Health will develop a website repository of both available medications, and which pharmacies participate in the program.
Illinois is one of 45 states with legislation establishing drug reuse programs. Program implementation and eligible drugs for donation varies by state, with Florida, Michigan, Montana, and Nebraska supporting programs specifically for cancer drugs. The improvements that Illinois is making to its drug reuse program, and the growing popularity of similar programs across the country, will improve patient access to vital medications and save billions of dollars in medical waste.