Health facilities: automated drug delivery systems.

Existing law authorizes the use of automated drug delivery systems, as defined, for pharmacy services in nursing, skilled nursing, and intermediate care facilities. Existing law requires the pharmacy at these facilities to be responsible for the drugs contained within, and the operation and maintenance of, the automated drug delivery system. Existing law makes a violation of these provisions a crime. This bill would add licensed hospice facilities to the list of facilities authorized to use an automated drug delivery system, and would expressly include an automated unit dose system within the definition of an automated drug delivery system. By expanding the scope of a crime, this 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.