Public health: oral therapeutics.

Existing law authorizes a person to perform an analysis of samples to test for SARS-CoV-2 in a clinical laboratory or a city, county, or city and county public health laboratory if they meet the requirements under specified federal regulations for high complexity testing. This bill would repeal these provisions as of July 1, 2028. Existing law, the Pharmacy Law, establishes the California State Board of Pharmacy to license and regulate pharmacists. A violation of these requirements is a crime. Existing law authorizes a pharmacist, among other things, to administer drugs and biological products that have been ordered by a prescriber. This bill, until January 1, 2025, would authorize a pharmacist to furnish COVID-19 oral therapeutics, as defined, following a positive test for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, as specified. Among other things, the bill would require a pharmacist to document, to the extent possible, the kind and amounts of COVID-19 oral therapeutics furnished pursuant to these provisions, as well as information regarding any testing services provided, in the record system maintained by the pharmacy and to maintain those records for 3 years. Because a violation of these requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law, the California Uniform Controlled Substances Act, regulates the distribution and use of controlled substances, as defined. Existing law authorizes specified individuals, when acting under the direction of a physician and surgeon, to administer a narcotic controlled substance orally in the treatment of a person with substance use disorder for addiction to a controlled substance. This bill would instead authorize the above-described individuals to administer a narcotic controlled substance in the treatment of a person with substance use disorder for addiction to a controlled substance. 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. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.