The Board of Pharmacy is disseminating information that pharmacies are eligible to receive free drug take-back bins and paid disposal service through a federally funded program intended to combat the opioid epidemic and reduce the misuse of medications. The California Statewide Drug Take-Back Program is expected to expand options for consumers to safely dispose of unused, unwanted or expired medications – including controlled substances – for humans and pets. The program is funded by the state Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and administered by the California Product Stewardship Council (CPSC). California licensed pharmacies, hospitals and other agencies approved by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration can apply to receive free collection bins. The program will pay for the cost of the bins, disposal service through 2020, technical assistance and promotion of bin locations. More information, including a program FAQ sheet and instructions on how to apply for a drug take-back bin, is available on the California Statewide Drug Take-Back Program website.
Also in California… In advance of the July 24 Board of Pharmacy meeting, NACDS and the California Retailers Association sent a letter expressing our concerns regarding the proposed regulations related to the “no pharmacist left alone” bill passed last session. (B&P Section 4113.5 /SB 1442, Statutes of 2018).
Also in California… Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) continues to move forward with the implementation of an Executive Order to take on high prescription drug costs. The DHCS announced this week that they will soon begin accepting proposals to implement a significant component of the state’s prescription drug purchasing plan. Under the proposal, DHCS will be transitioning Medi-Cal pharmacy services from its contracted managed care plans to its directly negotiated fee-for-service system, thereby purchasing on behalf of 13 million enrollees, as opposed to the current 2 million.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.