Prisoners: pharmacy services.

Existing law provides that it is the intent of the Legislature that the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, in cooperation with the Department of General Services and other appropriate state agencies, take prompt action to adopt cost-effective reforms in its drug and medical supply procurement processes, as specified. Existing law authorizes the Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to adopt regulations requiring manufacturers of drugs to pay the department a rebate for the purchase of drugs for offenders in state custody that is at least equal to the rebate that would be applicable to the drugs under the federal Social Security Act. This bill would provide that the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall maintain and operate a comprehensive pharmacy services program for those facilities under the jurisdiction of the department that incorporates, among other things, a statewide pharmacy administration system with direct authority and responsibility for program oversight and a multidisciplinary, statewide Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee with specified responsibilities. The bill would authorize the department to operate and maintain a centralized pharmacy distribution center, as specified. The bill would authorize the department to investigate and initiate potential systematic improvements in order to provide for the safe and efficient distribution and control of, and accountability for, drugs within the department's system. The bill would require the department to ensure that there is a program providing for the regular inspection of all the department's pharmacies to verify compliance with applicable rules, regulations, and other standards, as specified. The bill would require the department to report specified information to specified legislative committees relating to its pharmaceutical costs and its operation of a fully functioning and centralized pharmacy distribution center.