The Board of Pharmacy posted agendas for the following meetings: 

• Enforcement & Compounding Committee – June 11 Agenda 

• Legislation & Regulation Committee – June 11 Agenda 

• Communication & Public Education Committee – June 12 Agenda 

• Licensing Committee – June 12 Agenda 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

This week, the Board of Pharmacy issued the following communication: As you may be aware, Rite Aid filed for bankruptcy in October 2023, resulting in the closure of several locations nationwide. On May 5, Rite Aid filed for bankruptcy again and is in the process of selling assets, including prescriptions, to other pharmacies. 

The Board is closely monitoring the Rite Aid bankruptcy proceedings and anticipated pharmacy closures in California.  The Board strongly encourages pharmacies to consider if they may be impacted by Rite Aid closures in their respective areas and, if so, to begin taking steps to assist patients who may be seeking pharmacy services.  

The Board also reminds licensees that Business and Professions Code section 4064 establishes provisions for emergency refill of prescriptions without prescriber authorization under specified conditions.  It may be helpful to recommend patients bring in their prescription containers when seeking an emergency refill.  

As more information is received, updates will be shared on the Board's website https://www.pharmacy.ca.gov/. 

Also in California, the Board of Pharmacy posted to its website a Fact Sheet about the California Medication Error Reporting (CAMER) Pursuant to Business and Professions Code section 4113.1 including high level data reporting elements. Please note: the Board advises licensees that medication errors that occur on or after September 1, 2025, must be reported to the CAMER system. To view, visit www.pharmacy.ca.gov, scroll down to "What's New" and click on the link "California Medication Error Reporting (CAMER) Pursuant to Business and Professions Code section 4113.1". 

Also in California, the Department of Health Care Service posted the following alerts on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal: 

• Medi-Cal Rx Checkwrite Schedule – State Fiscal Year 2025-26 Available 

• 60-Day Countdown: NCPDP Field 426-DQ Usual and Customary Charge Requirement 

• Updates to the Vaccines for Children Administration Fee and Reimbursement Rate 

• Reminder: Preventing Common Billing Errors for Coordination of Benefits Claims 

Also in California, the Department of Health Care Services posted the following: 

• May 2025 Pharmacy Medi-Cal Update Bulletin 

• May 2025 Durable Medical Equipment and Medical Services Medi-Cal Update Bulletin 

Finally in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) released the revised 2025-26 State Budget, known as the May Revision. The May Revision proposes multiple programmatic changes to the pharmacy benefit by implementing a pharmacy rebate aggregator to secure rebates for the undocumented immigrant population; eliminating over-the-counter (OTC) coverage of certain drug classes, including COVID-19 antigen tests, OTC vitamins, and certain antihistamines including dry eye products; eliminating glucagon-like peptide-1 coverage (GLP-1) for weight loss effective January 1, 2026; and implementing utilization management and prior authorization for prescription drugs in Medi-Cal. It also proposes statutory changes to establish licensure and data reporting requirements for PBMs with the aim to increase transparency, understand cost drivers, and develop approaches to improve prescription drug affordability; details will be available in the Department of Managed Health Care's trailer bill language. Also, Gov. Newsom announced changes in coverage for undocumented immigrants beginning in 2026, just a year after expanding Medi-Cal access to undocumented immigrants of all ages.  

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

The Department of Health Care Service posted the following weekly notices on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal: Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap up for May 2-8.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

The May 2025 issue of the Board of Pharmacy's newsletter, The Script, is now published online. The newsletter includes information on the following: 

• New PIC training online seminar 

• Ensuring consumers receive medication (BPC 733) 

• Online portal for drug thefts and loss 

• SB 339: emergency to permanent regulation 

• How to support future licensees through donating to a scholarship fund 

• Wholesaler Thresholds 

• Becoming an inspector 

• CURES fee increase 

• Tribal health professionals' exemptions 

Previous newsletters can also be viewed and downloaded. Go to the "Quick Hits" column at www.pharmacy.ca.gov and click on The Script-Archive to find electronic issues of The Script published since October 1998. 

Also in California, the Board of Pharmacy published an update on medication error reporting.  Business and Professions Code (BPC) section 4113.1 establishes requirements for a community pharmacy to report medication errors to an entity approved by the Board. The statute requiring medication error reporting can be viewed here:  BPC section 4113.1. In September 2024, the Board approved the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), an ECRI Company, as the entity to receive and review medication error reports under BPC section 4113.1. 

Pursuant to BPC section 4113.1, "community pharmacy" includes any pharmacy that dispenses medication to an outpatient, including both resident (PHY and PHE) and nonresident (NRP) pharmacies, but does not include facilities of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Additionally, outpatient hospital pharmacies are not required to report a medication error under BPC section 4113.1 if the error meets the requirements of an adverse event that has been reported to the State Department of Public Health pursuant to section 1279.1 of the Health and Safety Code. 

A community pharmacy shall submit the report no later than 14 days after the date of the error's discovery. The community pharmacy shall maintain records demonstrating compliance with this requirement for three years and shall make these records immediately available at the request of a Board of Pharmacy inspector. 

ISMP, as the Board-approved entity, sent a postcard to community pharmacy licensees the week of April 21 with information about how to register with ISMP's California medication error reporting program. Registration can be completed using this website: https://mederrors.ismp.org/. If you experience any technical issues when signing up for California's medication error reporting program through ISMP, please email clientservices@ecri.org. Licensees are encouraged to register by May 24.  The online reporting system will be available to submit reports in early June 2025. You will receive a follow-up email from ISMP in early June 2025 with a link to the user registration page of the online reporting system. 

FAQs regarding medication error reporting are available online.  

Finally in California, the Department of Health Care Service posted the following weekly notices, alerts, and monthly bulletin on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal.  

• Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up for April 25-May1 

• Updates to the List of Contracted COVID-19 Antigen Tests, Effective June 1, 2025 

• Medi-Cal Rx Monthly Bulletin for May 

• Changes to the Medi-Cal Rx Contract Drugs List 

• Changes to the Medi-Cal Rx Pharmacy Reimbursable Physician Administered Drugs 

• Changes to the Medi-Cal Rx Family Planning, Access, Care and Treatment Pharmacy Formulary 

• Updates to the Medi-Cal Rx Provider Manual 

• Now Active: Completion of the Pediatric Integration of Members 21 Years of Age and Younger 

• Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up for April 18-24 

• Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Reimbursement Rates 

• April 18, 2025, Provider Payment Delayed 

• 90-Day Countdown: NCPDP Field 426-DQ Usual and Customary Charge Requirement 

• Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up for April 11-17 

• Medi-Cal Drug Use Review Board Meeting Update 

• Medi-Cal Rx Secured Provider Portal Password Reminders 

• Two-Week Countdown: Completion of Pediatric Integration of Members 21 Years of Age and Younger 

• Reminder: 340B Drug Price Program 

• Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up for April 4-10 

• Changes to the Medi-Cal Rx Contract Drugs List – Authorized Drug Manufacturer Labeler Codes 

• Pediatric Integration: Most Common Claim Reject Codes 

• Identifying Pediatric Claims for Proactive Prior Authorization 

• Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up for March 28-April 3 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

The Board of Pharmacy posted information for the following meetings: 

• The Legislation and Regulation Committee Meeting will be held on April 9 beginning at 9:00 am Pacific. For details, please review the agenda. 

• The Full Board Meeting will be held April 9-10 beginning at 1:00 pm Pacific on April 9. For details, please review the agenda. 

Also in California, the Department of Health Care Service posted the following weekly notices, alerts, and monthly bulletin on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal. Please note effective April 25, Medi-Cal Rx will complete implementation of Pediatric Integration by reinstating Reject Code 75 – Prior Authorization Required for all continuation of therapy claims for members 21 years of age and younger; see alert below for details. 

• Updates to the List of Contracted Enteral Nutrition Products, Effective May 1, 2025 

• Loading Dose Quantity Policy Updated in the Medi-Cal Rx Contract Drugs List 

• Medi-Cal Rx Monthly Bulletin for April 

• Changes to the Medi-Cal Rx Contract Drugs List 

• Changes to the Medi-Cal Rx Contract Drugs List – Blood Factors 

• Updates to the Medi-Cal Rx Provider Manual 

• Medi-Cal Rx Provider Portal Enhancement: Prescriber NPI (National Provider Identifier) Validation 

• Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up for March 21-27 

• 30-Day Countdown: Completion of Pediatric Integration of Members 21 Years of Age and Younger 

• Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up for March 14-20 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

The Board of Pharmacy posted a agenda for the Enforcement and Compounding Committee meeting on March 27. Please note the discussion and consideration of implementation of AB 1902 (Chapter 330, Statutes of 2024) related to prescription drug labels: accessibility.

Also in California, the Board of Pharmacy has proposed additional modifications to Title 16 CCR § 1708.2, related to the Discontinuance of Business.

• Notice of Second Modified Text
• Second Modified Text

Any person who wishes to comment on the proposed additional modifications may do so by submitting written comments beginning on March 11 and ending on March 26 to the following:

Contact Person: Lori Martinez

Agency Name: California State Board of Pharmacy

Address: 2720 Gateway Oaks Drive, Ste 100, Sacramento, CA 95833

Email: PharmacyRulemaking@dca.ca.gov

Fax: 916-574-8618

Any responses to comments directly concerning the proposed modifications to the text of the regulations will be considered and responded to in the Final Statement of Reasons.

Also in California, the Board of Pharmacy extends its sincere appreciation to its licensees for assisting the survivors of the Los Angeles Fires. Your commitment to California consumers is commendable. The Board has received notification that the Emergency Prescription Assistance Program (EPAP) ended on March 15. Once the EPAP activation ended, the vendor stopped processing further prescription claims for individuals in the designated Los Angeles zip codes.

Also in California, the Department of Health Care Service posted the following weekly notice on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal: Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up for March 7-13.

Finally in California, the Department of Health Care Services posted the following:

• March 2025 Pharmacy Medi-Cal Update Bulletin
• March 2025 Durable Medical Equipment and Medical Services Medi-Cal Update Bulletin

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

In conjunction with the Joint Sunset Review Oversight Hearing on March 11, NACDS submitted a letter to both the Assembly Business & Professions Committee and the Senate Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee emphasizing the importance of modernizing pharmacy laws to authorize pharmacists to practice at the top of their education and training; to allow pharmacies to optimize the pharmacy technician workforce to enhance pharmacies’ capacity to meet patient demand for pharmacy care services; and to enable pharmacies to deploy new practice models and technologies to deliver care to their patients.

Also in California, the Department of Health Care Services posted the following weekly notice on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal: Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up for February 28-March 6.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

The Department of Health Care Services posted the following alerts, weekly notices and monthly bulletin on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal:  

• Coming Soon: Completion of Pediatric Integration of Members 21 Years of Age and Younger 

• 30-day Countdown: Medi-Cal Rx Contract Drugs List Loading Dose Quantity Policy Update 

• Pharmacy Provider Dispensing Fee Self-Attestation 

• Maximum Allowable Ingredient Cost 30-day Pharmacy Provider Notice 

• Updates to the List of Contracted Enteral Nutrition Products, Effective April 1, 2025 

• Medi-Cal Rx Monthly Bulletin for March 

• Changes to the Medi-Cal Rx Contract Drugs List 

• Updates to the Medi-Cal Rx Provider Manual 

• Mass Adjustment for Professional Dispensing Fee Amount Increase for Impacted Claims with Date of Service July 1, 2024, through July 25, 2024 

• Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up for February 21-27 

• Medi-Cal Rx to Mail Amended 2024 1099-MISC Form 

• Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up for February 14-20 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

The Board of Pharmacy announced the modification and/or extension of the waivers of Pharmacy Law issued in response to the Los Angeles Fires.

The waiver that provides flexibility to increase the number of pharmacy technicians a pharmacist may supervise has been modified and the expiration date has been extended to June 30, 2025 (or the termination date of the state of emergency, whichever is sooner).

The expiration date of the waiver that provides flexibility for pharmacy personnel to perform some functions from outside of a licensed pharmacy has been extended to June 30, 2025 (or the termination date of the state of emergency, whichever is sooner).

The expiration date of the waiver to allow for the delivery of drugs to an alternate location has been extended to March 31, 2025 (or the termination date of the state of emergency, whichever is sooner).

Also in California, the Department of Health Care Services posted the following:

• February 2025 Pharmacy Medi-Cal Update Bulletin
• February 2025 Durable Medical Equipment and Medical Services Medi-Cal Update Bulletin

Finally in California, the Department of Health Care Services posted the following alerts and a weekly notice on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal. Please note the 2025 prescription volume attestation survey will be available to providers March 1 through March 31. Also, to avoid mail delivery delays and save paper, Medi-Cal Rx encourages pharmacy providers to opt into receiving the Medi-Cal Rx remittance information via the Electronic Remittance Advice (ERA) format.

• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Payment for Error Rate Measurement Review
• Upcoming Pharmacy Professional Dispensing Fee Provider Self-Attestation
• Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up for January 31-February 6
• State of Emergency Override Extension: Los Angeles and Ventura Counties
• Reminder: Providers Encouraged to Sign Up for Medi-Cal Rx Electronic Remittance Advice

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.