AB 317 (Weber, D-La Mesa)
Support
Assembly agreed to Senate amendments on Sept. 13. Pending governor’s action.
AB 317 would improve access to preventive health care by ensuring that pharmacists are paid for the care they deliver. Specifically, AB 317 would require a health plan to pay or reimburse the cost of services authorized by law that are performed by a pharmacist.
AB 1557 (Flora, R-Ripon)
Support
Signed by the governor on Sept.1.
AB 1557 makes permanent the authority for a California-licensed pharmacist located in California to conduct medication chart order reviews outside of a licensed California hospital. The waiver that allows hospitals to remotely process prescriptions expired on Aug. 9, 2023. The waiver will be reinstated as soon as the governor signs the bill.
SB 786 (Portantino, D-Glendale)
Support
Senate agreed to Assembly amendments on Sept. 6. Pending governor’s action.
SB 786 would prohibit pharmacy benefit managers from imposing requirements, conditions, or exclusions that prevent 340B-covered entities from retaining the benefit of discounted pricing because of their 340B status.
SB 816 (Roth, D-Riverside)
Concerns
Passed the Assembly on Sept. 12. Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee agreed to Assembly amendments on Sept. 13. Senate agreed to Assembly amendments on Sept. 14. Pending governor’s action.
SB 816 would raise several types of licensing fees (effective Jan. 1, 2025) imposed by various state boards within the Department of Consumer Affairs. The bill was recently amended and now includes numerous Board of Pharmacy (BoP) fee increases for both pharmacists and pharmacy facilities and equipment. The last fee increase occurred July 1, 2017. Based on an independent fee audit performed for the BoP, these new fees are intended to cover the board’s operating costs.