Rep. Marino’s Prescription Drug Enforcement Legislation Signed into Law

Washington D.C.— Rep. Tom Marino’s (PA-10) drug enforcement legislation, The Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act of 2016, was signed into law by President Obama yesterday. This legislation was the first significant bill of the 114th Congress enacted to address prescription drug diversion.

This bill offers a critical and comprehensive approach to combat prescription drug abuse by increasing collaboration between the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), prescription drug distributors, and pharmacies. The bill received overwhelming bipartisan support and included strong protections for patients’ access to important medicines. It also directs intergovernmental agency collaboration between the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), and the DEA to preserve patient accessibility and better implement drug abuse enforcement.

Rep. Marino issued the following statement regarding the bill being signed into law:

“Prescription drug abuse is a serious epidemic in our nation. Until now, clear, comprehensive legislation that protected patients’ right to access necessary medication while stopping those who might abuse such drugs did not exist. With this law, our drug enforcement agencies will have the necessary tools to address the issue of prescription drug abuse across the country. I applaud the hard work of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in Congress and President Obama for realizing the importance of this legislation. Signing this bill into law is the first of many steps we must take to ensure a safer and healthier America. I look forward to seeing the good this law will do for those that suffer from addiction and the progress we have made in our fight against prescription drug abuse in the United States.”