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<TITLE>Ohio Law Likely To Change So Discarded Drugs Can Be Donated</TITLE>
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<P><FONT FACE="Courier New">Ohio Law Likely To Change So Discarded Drugs Can Be Donated</FONT>
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<P><FONT FACE="Courier New">1 hour, 43 minutes ago</FONT>
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<P><FONT FACE="Courier New">A 5 On Your Side investigation is getting big results.</FONT>
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<P><FONT FACE="Courier New">5 On Your Side Investigator Ron Regan first told viewers about millions of dollars of expensive, life-saving drugs that were simply going to waste.</FONT></P>
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<P><FONT FACE="Courier New">In Columbus on Wednesday, a house committee heard new legislation that would get vital medicine to Ohio's sick and dying.</FONT></P>
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<P><FONT FACE="Courier New">Regan reported the legislation already passed overwhelmingly in the senate.</FONT>
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<P><FONT FACE="Courier New">The 5 On Your Side investigation exposed how life-saving medication, some costing patients $10,000 a month, were winding up being flushed down the toilet.</FONT></P>
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<P><FONT FACE="Courier New">Sometimes, the medication had never been opened. The discarded drugs that ease pain, treat cancer and fight heart disease are never reaching the sick and dying. Many more are simply thrown in a furnace and incinerated by licensed disposal companies.</FONT></P>
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<P><FONT FACE="Courier New">The investigation also found an Ohio law that could save millions of lives was simply being ignored.</FONT>
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<P><FONT FACE="Courier New">Omni Care, headquarted in Ohio, feared the law didn't protect them from potential lawsuits. As result of the investigation, state Sen. Kirk Schuring will introduce new legislation that would protect those who donate drugs from lawsuits that claim the medication caused injury or death.</FONT></P>
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<P><FONT FACE="Courier New">"We're basically saying that if they want to donate these drugs -- free of charge -- to free clinics where they can be dispensed to those who so desperately need them. Then we're going to give them some immunity provisions," Schuring said. "I think it will bring tens of millions of dollars' worth of unused drugs into the system where those who don't have prescription drug coverage -- the elderly and economically disadvantaged will now have access to them through free clinics."</FONT></P>
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<P><FONT FACE="Courier New">Regan said this means that medicine, still in tamper-proof packages with expiration dates that are years away, can be more easily donated.</FONT></P>
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<P><FONT FACE="Courier New">Schuring told 5 On Your Side, "I commend you and Channel Five for what you've done to bring light to this issue. Had it not been for that report, we would not have been able to get to the bottom of what was causing Omni care not to participate."</FONT></P>
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<P><FONT FACE="Courier New">Senate Bill 33 Drug Respository Law</FONT>
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<P><FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE=2 FACE="Times New Roman">Deborah L. DeBiasi</FONT>
<BR><B><FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE=2 FACE="Times New Roman">Email: dldebiasi@deq.virginia.gov</FONT></B>
<BR><FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE=2 FACE="Times New Roman">WEB site address: </FONT><A HREF="file://www.deq.virginia.gov"><U></U><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Times New Roman">www.deq.virginia.gov</FONT></U></A>
<BR><FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE=2 FACE="Times New Roman">Virginia Department of Environmental Quality</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE=2 FACE="Times New Roman">Office of Water Permit Programs</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE=2 FACE="Times New Roman">Industrial Pretreatment/Toxics Management Program</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE=2 FACE="Times New Roman">Mail: P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA 23218</FONT><B><I> <FONT COLOR="#FF0000" SIZE=2 FACE="Times New Roman">(NEW!)</FONT></I></B>
<BR><FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE=2 FACE="Times New Roman">Location: 629 E. Main Street, Richmond, VA 23219</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE=2 FACE="Times New Roman">PH: 804-698-4028</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE=2 FACE="Times New Roman">FAX: 804-698-4032</FONT>
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