Pharmacists: opioid medications: consultation.

Existing law, the Pharmacy Law, provides for the licensure and regulation of pharmacists by the California State Board of Pharmacy. A knowing violation of that law is a misdemeanor. That law requires a pharmacist to inform a patient orally or in writing of the harmful effects of a drug dispensed by prescription under specified circumstances, and requires a pharmacist to use professional judgment to provide a patient with directions for use that enhance the patient's understanding of those directions. Existing regulatory law requires a pharmacist to provide oral consultation to a patient upon the patient's request or whenever the pharmacist, in his or her professional judgment, deems it warranted. This bill, except as specified, would require a pharmacist, on dispensing any opioid medication to a patient or the patient's agent for the first time, to provide oral consultation before dispensing the medication, in accordance with regulations to be adopted by the board. The bill would prohibit the pharmacist from dispensing the medication if the patient or the patient's agent declines the consultation. Because a knowing violation of the bill's provisions 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.