04/07/2003 01:03 PM Senate HES

              HB  51-LABELING OF PRESCRIBED DRUGS                                                                           
                                                                                                                              
CHAIR FRED DYSON announced HB 51 to be up for discussion.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  PAUL  SEATON,  sponsor,   explained  that  HB  51                                                               
requires prescription labels to contain  the generic name as well                                                               
as  any brand  name. The  purpose for  the dual  labeling is  the                                                               
health and  safety of Alaskans.  Ways of treating  illnesses have                                                               
changed  drastically,  especially  chronic illnesses.  Many  more                                                               
pills are  available and  typically a person  takes all  of their                                                               
bottles and sets each prescription out  for the week. If a person                                                               
orders a  prescription and gets  it with a  brand name on  it, it                                                               
will only have that name on it.  If they get a refill, they might                                                               
get only  the generic name.  So, a person  goes to fill  his pill                                                               
containers and doesn't know precisely  what the prescriptions are                                                               
and ends up double dosing.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
This has been  a very significant problem,  especially for senior                                                               
citizens.  He said  the University  of Chicago  and the  FDA have                                                               
done studies and  found that 15 percent of all  the drug problems                                                               
are  caused by  drug  overdoses, because  people  were unable  to                                                               
distinguish the names.  This is one of the  15 recommendations by                                                               
the  FDA. AARP,  the Alaska  Association of  Health Underwriters,                                                               
the  Alaskan State  Medical Association,  Aetna Insurance,  and a                                                               
number of senior citizen homes support this. No one opposes it.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DYSON said he assumed  that the pharmaceutical industry had                                                               
been informed and that they support it.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON replied that is correct.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MR.  FRED   LAU,  Director,  Homer  Senior   Citizens,  Inc.,  an                                                               
organization  that runs  programs for  seniors 55  and older  for                                                               
nutrition,  transportation,  adult  day  care,  assisted  living,                                                               
respite and independent  living, affirmed that a  large number of                                                               
seniors are  taking from 5  to 15 medications. They  support this                                                               
bill for the reasons Representative Seaton explained.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GUESS moved  HB 51 and the attached zero  fiscal note out                                                               
of  committee  with  individual recommendations.  There  were  no                                                               
objections and it was so ordered.