The Department of Public Health (CDPH) released its inaugural “California State of Public Health Report”. The 2024 Summary Report utilizes multiple health measures and data sources to highlight major trends and disparities in health outcomes across the state. Although there have been major improvements in health and well-being over the past 20 years, California continues to strive to address issues through a myriad of initiatives including intervention at the earliest stages of life; prevention, especially primary prevention; upstream strategies to improve social determinants that create healthy conditions for all, with a priority focus on advancing health equity; and strengthening public health readiness and resiliency in the face of emerging threats and challenges such as climate change.
Also in California, the Department of Public Health issued a summary report on the work of the AB 1341 Workgroup, created by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) after he vetoed the bill in 2022. With a focus on the state’s youth, this report summarizes policy recommendations from academic and medical experts related to educating and safeguarding the public against the potential risks associated with the use of dietary supplements for weight loss and over the counter (OTC) diet pills. It is unknown how this report may impact weight loss supplement legislation currently under consideration by the state legislature.
Also in California, last week, Attorney General Rob Bonta, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), State Board of Pharmacy President Seung Oh, and Department of Managed Health Care Director Mary Watanabe acted to reaffirm an individual’s rights to contraceptive care in the state. Among the actions taken were alerts to all California pharmacies reminding them of their obligation under California law to provide minors access to emergency contraception and alerts to all State Board of Pharmacy licensees reminding licensees of their obligations under state law to provide minors with the ability to access emergency contraception without a prescription or parental consent.
Also in California, the Board of Pharmacy proposed modifications to amend section 1760 of Title 16, Division 17, Article 5 of the state’s Code of Regulations related to disciplinary guidelines; see details below. The 45-day comment period ends on April 12. To view all documents associated with the Board’s proposed regulatory actions and other pending regulations, visit the board’s “Pending Regulations” webpage.
Finally in California, the Department of Health Care Services posted an alert, “National System Outage Impacting Prescription Drug Claims”. (February 23)
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.