Pharmacists: authority to prescribe and dispense dangerous drugs and devices.

Existing law, the Pharmacy Law, provides for the licensure and regulation of pharmacists by the California State Board of Pharmacy, and generally prohibits a pharmacist from dispensing a dangerous drug or dangerous device except upon the prescription of an authorized prescriber. Existing law, notwithstanding that prohibition, authorizes a pharmacist to furnish certain dangerous drugs and devices, including nicotine replacement products, certain vaccines, and self-administered hormonal contraceptives, without a prescription in accordance with specified protocols and conditions. Existing law authorizes a pharmacist recognized by the board as an advanced practice pharmacist to perform specified tasks, including initiating, adjusting, or discontinuing drug therapy in a specified manner. This bill would require the board to convene a Public Health and Pharmacy Formulary Advisory Committee to advise the board in promulgating regulations to establish a formulary of drugs and devices that an advanced practice pharmacist may furnish to a patient. The bill would require the board to establish a formulary of dangerous drugs and devices that an advanced practice pharmacist may furnish to a patient, and would authorize an advanced practice pharmacist to furnish a dangerous drug or dangerous device included on the formulary to a patient pursuant to a diagnosis by a health care practitioner.