The Washington House of Representatives has introduced House Bill 2438 ("H.B. 2438"). As introduced, H.B. 2438 would require opioid manufacturers to pay an impact fee if more than 100,000 morphine milligram equivalents ("MME") of their prescription opioid products are dispensed in the state during a quarter year. Opioid manufacturers would be required to pay an impact fee of one cent ($0.01) per MME for prescription opioids dispensed and reported in the state's prescription monitoring program.
The term "impact fee" means "a payment of money imposed upon a manufacturer of prescription opioids under this chapter to pay for a share of the cost of preventing and treating opioid addiction."
"Morphine milligram equivalent" means "the conversion factor used to calculate the strength of an opioid using morphine dosage as the comparative unit of measure."
The impact fee would be due to the Department of Revenue no later than 45 days after the date of invoice. Manufacturers that fail to pay the impact fee within 45 days would be subject to a penalty fee of $100 per day or 10% of the impact fee due, whichever is greater.
For more information and to view a copy of H.B. 2438, please visit Washington's Pending Legislation section of the Distribution: Trade & Sample Controlled Substances Database.
-------------------------------------------
If you are interested in receiving updates relevant to Life Sciences compliance, please contact us for two weeks of complimentary access to all Porzio Compliance Digest InfoCenters. Topics include US and International transparency, US Enforcement Action, HCP Authorities/Restrictions and Licensing Distribution: Trade and Sample.