Pharmacy Technician Certification Board Practice Exam

Which act established a tracing system for medications to combat counterfeit drugs?

1. The Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1990

2. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996

3. The Drug Supply Chain Security Act

4. The Poison Prevention Packaging Act

The correct answer is: The Drug Supply Chain Security Act

The Drug Supply Chain Security Act established a tracing system for medications as a critical measure to combat counterfeit drugs. This legislation was enacted in 2013 and aims to create a unified national system for tracing prescription drugs as they move through the supply chain, from manufacturers to distributors to dispensers. This enhanced tracking and verification process helps to ensure the authenticity of medications, thus protecting patients from contaminated or counterfeit drugs. The other acts mentioned do not focus specifically on the tracing of medications nor do they address the issue of counterfeit drugs. The Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1990 primarily deals with Medicaid and includes provisions for drug utilization reviews and patient counseling. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 focuses on healthcare privacy and the protection of patient health information. The Poison Prevention Packaging Act ensures that certain medications are packaged in a way that is safe for children, which, while important for safety, does not address drug counterfeiting or tracking. Thus, the Drug Supply Chain Security Act is the most relevant law regarding the tracing of medications to combat counterfeit drugs.