HDMA PRESENTS RX SAFETY AND HEALTHCARE LEADERSHIP AWARD TO SENATOR SHERROD BROWN (D-OHIO)

Award Honors Public Officials Who Advocate for a Safe and Efficient Healthcare Supply Chain

From left: Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and HDMA President and CEO John M. Gray.

ARLINGTON, Va., December 16, 2011 – The Healthcare Distribution Management Association (HDMA) yesterday honored Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) with its Rx Safety and Healthcare Leadership Award. The award recognizes public officials for their leadership and commitment to public policies that support and promote the safe and efficient delivery of lifesaving medicines to patients nationwide.

Since he was elected to the House of Representatives in 1992 and the Senate in 2006, Senator Brown has been a longtime advocate on behalf of patients. In particular, he is a strong supporter for policies that prevent the abuse, misuse and theft of prescription drugs. He is a lead co-sponsor of the Strengthening and Focusing Enforcement to Deter Organization Stealing and Enhance Safety Act of 2011 or the SAFE DOSES Act (S. 1002), which would expand the penalties for pharmaceutical cargo thefts, further deterring criminals who jeopardize patient safety by stealing and introducing diverted products into the supply chain.

“Senator Brown understands and recognizes the importance of securing products within our nation’s healthcare supply chain,” said HDMA President and CEO John M. Gray. “We commend his leadership on legislation to expand the penalties for pharmaceutical cargo thefts and are committed to working with him to ensure the safe and effective delivery of medicines nationwide.”

HDMA presents the Rx Safety and Healthcare Leadership Award to honor and recognize federal and state public
officials who:

• Introduce, support or author legislation, regulations or policies and champion technologies that further enhance supply chain security, patient safety, business efficiencies and defend the industry against policies that could compromise these or are otherwise harmful to the supply chain.
• Support fair and accurate reimbursement policies that ensure continuous patient access to lifesaving medicines at their pharmacy, physician’s office or other healthcare provider.
• Continually promote constructive discussion and ongoing collaboration between supply chain partners and government and endeavor to learn about the distribution industry through meetings, appearances, tours and other events.
  

The most recent Rx Safety and Healthcare Leadership Award honoree was Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.)

Further information is available on HDMA’s website, www.HealthcareDistribution.org.

About HDMA
HDMA is the national association representing primary healthcare distributors, the vital link in the healthcare system. Each business day, HDMA member companies ensure that nearly nine million prescription medicines and healthcare products are delivered safely and efficiently to nearly 200,000 pharmacies, hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and others nationwide. HDMA and its members work daily to provide value and contain costs, saving the nation’s healthcare system an estimated $32 billion per year.