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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p><span class="date-display-single" style="BORDER-TOP: 0px; FONT-FAMILY: inherit; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; OUTLINE-WIDTH: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; OUTLINE-STYLE: none; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; OUTLINE-COLOR: invert; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px">Sep
08, 2017</span></p>
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WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley and Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa today urged the Office of National Drug Control Policy to include an evaluation of drug take back programs in the final report of the President’s Commission on Combatting Opioid Abuse, correcting
a shortcoming in the interim report.</p>
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<p><a href="https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-ernst-urge-evaluation-drug-take-back-programs-federal-anti-opioid-abuse" target="_blank">https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-ernst-urge-evaluation-drug-take-back-programs-federal-anti-opioid-abuse</a>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">Seems my post from Thursday Sept 7 didn't go through, possibly because
it contained too many hot links. Trying again, with the links removed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>Please let me know if you want me to send you any of the cut links. </span>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">Update:
<br>
Op-Ed (by Scott Cassel & myself) published today in Albany's Times-Union.<br>
</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><a href="http://www.timesunion.com/opinion/article/Take-back-programs-the-best-method-for-drug-12189111.php"><span style="COLOR: blue">http://www.timesunion.com/opinion/article/Take-back-programs-the-best-method-for-drug-12189111.php</span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">Three stories were recently published about the deeply flawed NYS
chain pharmacy medication take-back bill (</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">A.387-B) that passed both houses and could be sent to Gov. Cuomo anytime now</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">.
</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">Please ask Gov. Cuomo to veto this bill (see previous post, below).
Thank you! Ed G.</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">STAT Pharmalot blog posted on Aug 31 by Ed Silverman (full blog,
and link, posted below). </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">I take
issue with statements from the bill's sponsor as quoted in the STAT blog (below). </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">Link to the 9/4 story in Albany Times-Union paper:</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><a href="http://www.timesunion.com/allnews/article/Drug-take-back-plan-draws-critics-12167451.php" target="_blank"><span style="COLOR: #0066cc">http://www.timesunion.com/allnews/article/Drug-take-back-plan-draws-critics-12167451.php</span></a></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">Link to the 9/6 story on the American Pharmacists Association website:</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><a href="http://www.pharmacist.com/article/medication-take-back-plan-draws-critics" target="_blank"><span style="COLOR: blue">http://www.pharmacist.com/article/medication-take-back-plan-draws-critics</span></a></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><b><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">Opinion:</span></b><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">
</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">PhARMA's legal challenge to the first product stewardship law failed and
their lobbying to stop new product stewardship bills from passing has been largely unsuccessful. The NY Chain Pharmacy bill is the unveiling of a new PhARMA strategy: State legislation that puts the cost of take-back on consumers and chain pharmacies while
preempting existing and future local laws that require manufactures to pay. To keep pharmacies from strongly objecting, the bill exempts independent pharmacies and allows chain pharmacies to pass on some of the cost to consumers.
</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">The NY bill has several short comings that severely limit its effectiveness,
most notably: </span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">1. It treats an occasional one day collection event and $2 mail back
envelopes as equivalent in convenience to installing a drop-box. Free to use drop-boxes are far more user friendly than limited capacity, high cost, envelopes or a one day event.
</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 5pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">2. The lack of chain pharmacies in rural areas leaves many unserved
by this legislation.</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><b><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">STATEMENT:
</span></b><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">Quoting the bill’s sponsor, Senator Kemp Hannon:
</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 5pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">“I’m trying to be pragmatic. I did not want to get up caught up in
court cases that almost for sure we’d get from the pharmaceutical industry. I wanted to get a system up and running as quickly as possible to get opioids out of circulation if they’re no longer being used for medicinal purposes. But this is not the end of
the game.”</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in">
<b><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">RESPONSE</span></b><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">:
PhARMA unsuccessfully challenged Alameda County, California’s take-back bill. The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the industry’s case, leaving the Ninth Circuit Appeals Court ruling, that the law was valid, in place. Since then, many similar laws have
passed at the local and state level and there have been no more legal challenges. There is no reason to believe a manufacturer funded product stewardship law in NY would be challenged in court. A manufacturer funded program could place free mail back envelopes
in pharmacies just as quickly as this legislation will make $2 envelopes available.
</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 5pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><b><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">STATEMENT:
</span></b><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">"Meanwhile, the New York lawmakers who championed the bills maintain there is ongoing interest in having drug makers underwrite
a take-back program. A </span><u><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: #1fadb6; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">separate bill</span></u><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""> was
recently introduced that requires a study for creating a program that would be financed by the pharmaceutical industry, and it would have to be submitted to state officials by May 2018."</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in">
<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">The referenced bill,
</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">[</span><u><span style="FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: blue; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">http://nyassembly.gov/leg/?default_fld=&leg_video=&bn=A08432&term=2017&Summary=Y&Text=Y</span></u><span style="FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">]</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 5pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">"Directs the department of health to conduct a prescription drug
product stewardship disposal program study, whereby such department shall study and report on the feasibility of establishing incentives to consumers to return controlled substances and other prescription drugs for safe disposal."
</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in">
<b><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">RESPONSE</span></b><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">: We
already know the best "incentives" for consumer participation in take-back programs: free, convenient drop-off at pharmacies (who voluntarily participate) and mail-back envelopes for those who are home-bound or otherwise find it difficult to get to a pharmacy.
Then, promote the program. This bill is not necessary and should be replaced by a producer responsibility bill based on models we know work. Neither the study bill nor the chain pharmacy take-back bill will be effective.
</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: #1f497d; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""> </span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">
<br>
<br>
<b>Of Note</b>: The Business Council of New York State is opposed to this legislation.</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">Pharma may win a big victory in New York over a drug take-back program</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><u><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: #0066cc; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">https://www.statnews.com/pharmalot/2017/08/31/take-back-program-new-york/</span></u><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">By</span></i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 1.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""> </span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif; TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 1.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><a href="https://www.statnews.com/staff/ed-silverman/" target="_blank"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black">ED
SILVERMAN</span></a></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 1.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""> </span><u><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: #1fadb6; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">@Pharmalot</span></u><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial",sans-serif; TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 1.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">
</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 1.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">AUGUST 31, 2017</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Garamond",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman""><br>
</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">In what could be a big win for the pharmaceutical industry, legislation is close to being signed into law in New York State that
would absolve drug makers from paying for so-called drug take-back programs.<br>
<br>
</span><u><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: #1fadb6; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">Identical bills</span></u><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""> recently
passed the state Senate and Assembly that would, instead, require chain pharmacies to cover the costs, a move that bucks a growing trend on the West Coast, where drug makers have increasingly been forced by local governments to pay for these programs.</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 15pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">Over the past few years, four California cities and 12 counties
in California and Washington created programs requiring drug makers to foot the bill. And ordinances are expected in still more California counties, according to Heidi Sanborn of the California Product Stewardship Council. But the trend has also headed eastward
as Cook County, Ill., and </span><u><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: #1fadb6; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">Rockland County</span></u><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">,
N.Y., recently passed similar laws.</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 15pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">Local officials are pursuing such ordinances in the face of rising
disposal costs, growing concerns about contaminants in water supplies, and a desire to reduce the threat of drug abuse stemming from medicines — especially opioids — lingering in cabinets. And they have been emboldened after the U.S. Supreme Court </span><u><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: #1fadb6; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">let
stand</span></u><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""> the legality of the first such ordinance, which was passed in 2012 in Alameda County, Calif.</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 15pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">This explains why environmental activists are disheartened by the
developments in New York.</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 15pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">Besides Rockland County, two other New York counties are considering
ordinances that would require drug makers to pay for take-back programs, but all of these efforts would be pre-empted by a state law. And such a law would represent a significant gain for the pharmaceutical industry, since New York would stand in stark contrast
to the mostly failed attempts to derail ordinances in California.</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 15pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">“It would be a significant development,” said Scott Cassel, who
heads the Product Stewardship Institute, a nonprofit that supports drug take-back programs. “We’re seeing the pharmaceutical industry try different strategies to get out of any responsibility for managing these leftover medications.”</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 15pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">Indeed, industry trade groups unsuccessfully went to court to prevent
Alameda County from implementing its ordinance. Last year, however, the trade group scored a victory in Los Angeles County, which </span><u><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: #1fadb6; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">tabled</span></u><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""> a
law that would have required drug makers to finance a take-back program, according to a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 15pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">A spokeswoman for the Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of
America declined to comment. A spokesman for the National Association of Chain Drug Stores wrote to say the trade group is having “ongoing discussions regarding the specifics … and its potential implementation.”</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 15pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">Meanwhile, the New York lawmakers who championed the bills maintain
there is ongoing interest in having drug makers underwrite a take-back program. A </span><u><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: #1fadb6; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">separate bill</span></u><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""> was
recently introduced that requires a study for creating a program that would be financed by the pharmaceutical industry, and it would have to be submitted to state officials by May 2018.</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 15pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">This prompted frustration, however, from Ed Day, the Rockland County
executive. “It’s a cost shifting exercise,” he said. “This is conjecture, but it would seem to me that the impact on the local economy would be greater if the cost were borne by chains than large manufacturers… But there should be common sense — stop now and
know what you wish to do before you implement something.”</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 15pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">But one of the New York lawmakers argued otherwise.</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 15pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">“I’m trying to be pragmatic. I did not want to get up caught up
in court cases that almost for sure we’d get from the pharmaceutical industry,” said Kemp Hannon, a Republican who heads the Senate Health Committee. “I wanted to get a system up and running as quickly as possible to get opioids out of circulation if they’re
no longer being used for medicinal purposes. But this is not the end of the game.”</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 15pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">Separately, the New York State Association of Counties supports
the legislation.</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 15pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">For what it’s worth, Hannon last year </span><u><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: #1fadb6; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">received</span></u><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""> $29,750
from drug makers, according to the National Institute on Money in State Politics. He scoffed that this influenced the process. “In the course of this bill pending, I didn’t get any comments from pharmaceutical people,” he said. Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther,
who introduced the companion bill, </span><u><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: #1fadb6; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">received</span></u><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""> $2,000
last year, from different drug makers.</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">Ed Gottlieb<br>
Chair, Coalition for Safe Medication Disposal<br>
Board Member, New York Product Stewardship Council</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">Industrial Pretreatment Coordinator</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility<br>
525 3<sup>rd</sup> Street</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">Ithaca, NY 14850</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">(607) 273-8381</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">fax: (607) 273-8433</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><font face="Calibri"><b><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri">PREVIOUS
POST (8/24):</span></b><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">Any day now, a seriously flawed New York State chain pharmacy take-back
bill could be signed into law. </span><u><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: #0563c1; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2017/a387/amendment/b</span></u><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><br>
It would do a poor job of providing convenient take-back and who pays for it is wrong.
<br>
<br>
This could be the leading edge of a wave of state bills that shield manufactures from any responsibility for the collection and disposal of their unwanted products. To prevent this, we need to take action! (Suggestions
<span style="BACKGROUND: yellow">highlighted</span> below.) <br>
<br>
The bill requires pharmacies with 10 or more stores in the state to offer take-back option<u>s</u> (plural in the NY bill). Pharmacies could choose among any legal method, including: mail-back, home disposal products, collection events (no frequency specified),
and kiosks. <br>
<br>
It appears that the original Senate version of the bill required that all take-back be free to consumers. It was amended to allow the pharmacies to pass on 100% of the cost of mail-back envelopes to consumers. The final version, amended by the Assembly, allows
them to pass on up to $2 of the cost of mail-back envelopes to consumers, with other take-back options remaining free. Does your inner cynic wonder, as mine does, if the change from "free" to "pay 100% for mail-back" was a bait and switch to get the support
of legislators?</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">My interpretation of the bill is that it would be easy for chain
pharmacies to comply with the law. They could sell small take-back envelopes for $2 and sponsor a once-a-year collection event. When I spoke with representatives of a couple of chain pharmacies, they were supportive of the compromise version because it releases
them from having to install kiosks, which take more effort and are seen as a liability risk (something EPR bills need to address!).
</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">The bill does nothing to increase take-back in rural areas without
a chain pharmacy. </span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">The bill also preempts local law, so existing EPR laws will be struck
down. This totally relieves manufactures of any responsibility to organize or pay for take-back and puts the full burden on chain pharmacies and consumers. <br>
</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; BACKGROUND: yellow; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">If you don't live in NY and want to see an effective
pharmaceutical EPR law in your community or state, or don't want to see your local EPR law disappear, please educate state legislators about EPR
<u>now</u>.</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; BACKGROUND: lime; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">*</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; BACKGROUND: yellow; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""> If
they don't get the facts, a state chain pharmacy bill will probably look like a good compromise solution.</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; BACKGROUND: yellow; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">If you are a New Yorker, please ask Governor
Cuomo to veto A.387-B, the chain pharmacy take-back bill. It could be sent to his desk for a signature any time, so contact him right away! He will have to hear from many of us to consider a veto, the bill had strong, bipartisan support.</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">
</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt 0.75in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">Talking points:
</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in">
<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"">·</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 7pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">
</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">This bill is a give-away to the pharmaceutical manufactures, relieving them of any responsibility for the collection and disposal
of their unwanted product. Chain pharmacies and consumers will have to pay for take-back.</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"">·</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 7pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">
</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">It fails to provide effective take-back of unwanted household medications.
</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Courier New"; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">o</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 7pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">
</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">Charging $2 for a small mail-back envelope is a strong disincentive to participate.
</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Courier New"; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">o</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 7pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">
</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">Many rural communities are not served by chain pharmacies. This bill does nothing for them.</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"">·</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 7pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">
</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">Without convenient take-back options, medicine cabinets will continue to fuel the opioid addiction crisis, accidental poisonings,
and environmental contamination.</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"">·</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 7pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">
</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">It preempts any local law related to take-back. Rockland County’s extended producer responsibility (EPR) law, will no longer be
valid. Similar bills, including those under consideration in Erie and Westchester Counties, will be moot. The only reason for preemption is to ensure that manufactures won’t have to pay.
</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"">·</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 7pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">
</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">MA & VT, along with many municipalities, have passed pharmaceutical EPR laws. NY should improve upon those models and take the
lead on this important public health issue!</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span lang="EN" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN">Contact
</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">Governor Cuomo's office</span><span lang="EN" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN">
by phone: </span><u><span lang="EN" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: #0563c1; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN">1-518-474-8390</span></u><span lang="EN" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN">
Hours: 9:00am to 5:00pm</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span lang="EN" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN">Web form:
</span><u><span lang="EN" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: #0563c1; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN">https://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form</span></u><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span lang="EN" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN">Write:
<br>
The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo<br>
Governor of New York State<br>
NYS State Capitol Building<br>
Albany, NY 12224</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; BACKGROUND: lime; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">*</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">
Here are a couple of links to information on EPR:<br>
<br>
</span><u><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: #0563c1; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">http://www.productstewardship.us/?page=GoToGuide</span></u><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><u><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: #0563c1; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">http://calpsc.org/products/pharmaceuticals/</span></u><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">Thanks for speaking out!</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman",serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">Ed Gottlieb<br>
Chair, Coalition for Safe Medication Disposal<br>
Board Member, New York Product Stewardship Council<br>
Industrial Pretreatment Coordinator<br>
Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma",sans-serif; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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