Pharmacy practice.

The Pharmacy Law provides for the licensing and regulation of pharmacists by the California State Board of Pharmacy in the Department of Consumer Affairs. The law specifies the functions pharmacists are authorized to perform, including to administer, orally or topically, drugs and biologicals pursuant to a prescriber's order, and to administer immunizations pursuant to a protocol with a prescriber. Pharmacists may also furnish emergency contraception drug therapy pursuant to standardized procedures if they have completed a training program. A violation of the Pharmacy Law is a crime. This bill, instead, would authorize a pharmacist to administer drugs and biological products that have been ordered by a prescriber. The bill would authorize pharmacists to perform other functions, including, among other things, to furnish self-administered hormonal contraceptives, nicotine replacement products, and prescription medications not requiring a diagnosis that are recommended for international travelers, as specified. Additionally, the bill would authorize pharmacists to order and interpret tests for the purpose of monitoring and managing the efficacy and toxicity of drug therapies, and to independently initiate and administer routine vaccinations, as specified. This bill also would establish board recognition for an advanced practice pharmacist, as defined, would specify the criteria for that recognition, and would specify additional functions that may be performed by an advanced practice pharmacist, including, among other things, performing patient assessments, and certain other functions, as specified. The bill would authorize the board, by regulation, to set the fee for the issuance and renewal of advanced practice pharmacist recognition at the reasonable cost of regulating advanced practice pharmacists pursuant to these provisions, not to exceed $300. Because a violation of these provisions would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would make other conforming and technical changes. This bill would incorporate additional changes in Section 4076 of the Business and Professions Code proposed by SB 205, that would become operative only if SB 205 and this bill are both chaptered and become effective on or before January 1, 2014, and this bill is chaptered last. 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.