ARLINGTON, Va., June 25, 2019 – The Healthcare Distribution Alliance (HDA) issued the following statement in response to Governor Murphy’s press conference today calling on the New Jersey legislature to adopt a multi-million dollar fee increase on the healthcare supply chain in the state budget.

“Governor Murphy’s move to publicly call for lawmakers to include a substantial fee increase on the healthcare supply chain is misguided and would do nothing to address New Jersey’s opioid epidemic. The legislature explicitly omitted this fee increase from its budget as it would have ultimately been a tax on New Jersey’s patient community.

“Significant concern has been expressed by a diverse set of voices throughout the state that any financial assessment on opioid products, or the companies that manufacture and distribute them, would have unintended consequences on patients. Many patients rely on legally prescribed opioid medications and treatments for a range of conditions and procedures, including cancer , chronic pain, childbirth, or surgery. These are the very people who would ultimately be affected by this punitive fee, experiencing higher prescription medication and healthcare costs, and limited access to necessary medicines .

“As logistics experts , HDA and its member companies have continuously sought to educate the Governor’s office on the structure of the supply chain and the very real consequences an opioid fee would invite. However, the Governor has chosen political posturing over the well being of patients.

“HDA calls on the Governor to abandon this policy approach and work with  healthcare supply chain stakeholders and others to find an effective and long-term solution to the public health crisis we face.”

About the Healthcare Distribution Alliance
The Healthcare Distribution Alliance (HDA) represents primary pharmaceutical distributors — the vital link between the nation’s pharmaceutical manufacturers and pharmacies, hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics and others nationwide. Since 1876, HDA has helped members navigate regulations and innovations to help get the right medicines to the right patients at the right time, safely and efficiently. The HDA Research Foundation, HDA’s non-profit charitable foundation, serves the healthcare industry by providing research and education focused on priority healthcare supply chain issues.

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