Pharmacy: clinics.

Existing law, the Pharmacy Law, provides for the licensure and regulation of the practice of pharmacy by the California State Board of Pharmacy and a knowing violation of this law is a crime. Existing law authorizes a surgical clinic, as defined, to purchase drugs at wholesale for administration or dispensing, under the direction of a physician, to patients registered for care at the clinic. Existing law requires these clinics to obtain a license from the board and to comply with various regulatory requirements. Existing law also authorizes the board to inspect a clinic at any time in order to determine whether a surgical clinic is, or is not, operating in compliance with certain requirements. This bill would expand these provisions to additionally authorize an outpatient setting and an ambulatory surgical center, as specified, to purchase drugs at wholesale for administration or dispensing under those same circumstances and subject to the same licensing, regulatory, and inspection requirements. Because a knowing violation of these requirements by outpatient settings and ambulatory surgical centers would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.