Posted: February 15, 2017
Attempting to join the 26 other states that have enacted laws for Biosimilars and their dispensing, Nebraska’s Unicameral Legislature will hear LB481 in the Health and Human Services Committee. This bill provides important pathways for access to these unique medications, and creates much needed patient safety rules for dispensing pharmacists to communicate with prescribing physicians any biosimilar substitutions within three business days of after a switch. Requiring this communication allows physicians an opportunity to quickly counter and correctly report to the FDA adverse events from these medications.
Patients that take biologic medicines without the consent of their physician risk suffering from unmonitored adverse reactions and outcomes. Biologic medicines must be used carefully and with proper supervision, and LB481 will make sure of this for patients in Nebraska.
CSRO would like to thank Senator John Keuhn for bringing this important regulation to Nebraska. With FDA approval of biosimilars, biological products continue to be of growing importance for rheumatology patients. CSRO supports the safe introduction of interchangeable biologic drugs into the practice of medicine in Nebraska and urges the passage of L.B. 481. Please check the CSRO website for updates on the status of this Biosimilars bill and others like it across the country.
