Prescription drugs: collection and distribution program.

Existing law authorizes a county to establish, by ordinance, a repository and distribution program under which a pharmacy that is owned by or contracts with the county may distribute surplus unused medications, as defined, to persons in need of financial assistance to ensure access to necessary pharmaceutical therapies. Existing law requires a county that has established a program to establish procedures to, among other things, ensure proper safety and management of any medications collected and maintained by a participating pharmacy. Existing law authorizes a skilled nursing facility, specified drug manufacturer, or pharmacy wholesaler to donate medications to the program. Existing law requires medication under the program to be dispensed to an eligible patient, destroyed, or returned to a reverse distributor, as specified. Except in cases of noncompliance, bad faith, or gross negligence, existing law prohibits certain people and entities from being subject to criminal or civil liability for injury caused when donating, accepting, or dispensing prescription drugs in compliance with the program's provisions. This bill would authorize a county to establish the program by action of the county board of supervisors or by action of a public health officer of the county, as prescribed. This bill would also authorize specified primary care clinics and pharmacies to participate in the program. This bill would require a pharmacy or clinic seeking to participate in the program to inform the county health department in writing of its intent and prohibit the pharmacy or clinic from participating until the county health department has confirmed that it has received this notice. This bill would require participating pharmacies and clinics to disclose specified information to the county health department and require the county board of supervisors or public health officer to make this information available upon request to the California State Board of Pharmacy. This bill would authorize the county board of supervisors, public health officer, and California State Board of Pharmacy to prohibit a pharmacy or clinic from participating in the program, under certain circumstances, and require written notice to be provided to prohibited pharmacies or clinics. This bill would authorize certain licensed health and care facilities and certain pharmacies, as specified, to donate unused medications to the program, in accordance with prescribed conditions. This bill would also make other conforming changes to those provisions.