CA / Gov. Brown approve access to naloxone (opiate antaganist) without prescription.

[pinto]

Some side kudos should be forwarded to Dr. Sanjay Gupta of CNN for his special on overdose intervention utilizing naloxone on site when it is most critical. ~ pinto

Assembly Bill No. 1535
CHAPTER 326

An act to add Section 4052.01 to the Business and Professions Code, relating to pharmacists.

[ Approved by Governor September 15, 2014. Filed with Secretary of State September 15, 2014. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 1535, Bloom. Pharmacists: naloxone hydrochloride.

Existing law, the Pharmacy Law, provides for the licensure and regulation of pharmacists by the California State Board of Pharmacy. Existing law, generally, authorizes a pharmacist to dispense or furnish drugs only pursuant to a valid prescription. Existing law authorizes a pharmacist to furnish emergency contraceptives and hormonal contraceptives pursuant to standardized procedures or protocols developed and approved by both the board and the Medical Board of California, as specified, or developed by the pharmacist and an authorized prescriber. Existing law also authorizes a pharmacist to furnish nicotine replacement products pursuant to standardized procedures or protocols developed and approved by both the board and the Medical Board of California, as specified. Existing law authorizes a licensed health care provider who is permitted to prescribe an opioid antagonist and is acting with reasonable care to prescribe and dispense or distribute an opioid antagonist for the treatment of an opioid overdose to a person at risk of an opioid-related overdose or a family member, friend, or other person in a position to assist a person at risk of an opioid-related overdose.

This bill would authorize a pharmacist to furnish naloxone hydrochloride in accordance with standardized procedures or protocols developed and approved by both the board and the Medical Board of California, in consultation with specified entities. The bill would require the board and the Medical Board of California, in developing those procedures and protocols, to include procedures requiring the pharmacist to provide a consultation to ensure the education of the person to whom the drug is furnished, as specified, and notification of the patient’s primary care provider of drugs or devices furnished to the patient, as specified. The bill would prohibit a pharmacist furnishing naloxone hydrochloride pursuant to its provisions from permitting the person to whom the drug is furnished to waive the consultation described above. The bill would require a pharmacist to complete a training program on the use of opioid antagonists prior to performing this procedure. The bill would require each board to enforce these provisions with respect to its respective licensees.

This bill would authorize the California State Board of Pharmacy to adopt emergency regulations to establish the standardized procedures or protocols that would remain in effect until the earlier of 180 days following their effective date or the effective date of regulations adopted as described above.

http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140AB1535