Care facilities are now being required to throw out unused drugs due to strict Texas regulations. This is making taxpayers shell out big bucks.

At the Pines Care Center, a director of nursing sends out an untold number of boxes to be destroyed as part of her job. Sometimes there are just a few pills gone.

This includes all types of medications from blood thinners to breathing medications, to blood pressure medicines. It is estimated that between 5-10% of all drugs dispersed in a long-term facility are destroyed.

Why this is happening is either the patient passes away or has to change medications. The financial waste of this is troubling. Due to Texas regulations, even if the medication is not expired you can’t return them.

Facilities usually do not keep track of what is being destroyed. The state did not know the amount that was being thrown away either.

The Pines Center says this money that should be used for care instead of being wasted. Put it back into care and programs like Medicaid or Medicare for example. Lawmakers are debating this policy. They are trying to find a better system of saving taxpayer dollars along with a better way of managing all this waste.

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