Pharmacy: electronic prescriptions.

Existing law, the Pharmacy Law, establishes in the Department of Consumer Affairs the California State Board of Pharmacy to license and regulate the practice of pharmacy. The Pharmacy Law authorizes a prescriber or a prescriber's authorized agent to electronically enter a prescription into a pharmacy's or hospital's computer from a location outside of the pharmacy or hospital. The Pharmacy Law makes those provisions inapplicable to prescriptions for controlled substances classified in Schedule II, III, IV, or V, except as permitted pursuant to specified provisions. That law generally punishes a knowing violation of its provisions as a misdemeanor. This bill would delete the provision making the authorization to electronically enter a prescription inapplicable to controlled substances. The bill would also authorize a pharmacist located and licensed in the state to, on behalf of a licensed health care facility, from a location outside of the facility, verify medication chart orders for appropriateness before administration consistent with federal requirements, as established in the health care facility's policies and procedures. The bill would require a health care facility to maintain a record of a pharmacist's verification of a medication chart order pursuant to that provision, as specified. By expanding the scope of the crime of violating the Pharmacy Law, 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. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.