Controlled substances: prescriptions: declared local, state, or federal emergency.

Existing law, the Pharmacy Law, authorizes the California State Board of Pharmacy, during a declared federal, state, or local emergency, to waive application of any provisions of the law or the regulations adopted pursuant to it if, in the board's opinion, the waiver will aid in the protection of public health or the provision of patient care. Those provisions also authorize a pharmacist or a licensed clinic to furnish a dangerous drug or dangerous device in reasonable quantities without a prescription during a federal, state, or local emergency to further the health and safety of the public. Existing law, the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, regulates prescription forms for controlled substances and requires prescriptions to contain specified information and to be printed with specified security features. This bill would authorize a pharmacist, during a declared local, state, or federal emergency pursuant to which the board issues a notice that the board is waiving the application of the provisions of the Pharmacy Law, to fill a prescription for a controlled substance for use by a patient who cannot access medications as a result of the declared local, state, or federal emergency, regardless of whether the prescription form meets the above-specified requirements, if certain other requirements are met, including that the prescription is written and dispensed within the first 2 weeks of the notice issued by the board. The bill would require the patient to demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the pharmacist, their inability to access medications. The bill would prohibit refills under these provisions and would limit the dispensing of a Schedule II controlled substance to a 7-day supply.