Assembly to vote on security prescription fix this week February 5, 2019 Advocacy, CMA AB149, CMA, Opioids, Prescription Pads 0 Flawed implementation of a new state law that requires all security prescription forms to have a uniquely serialized number law has left pharmacies unable to fill prescriptions and patients being refused necessary medications. The California Medical Association (CMA) is currently working on a legislative fix to address this issue immediately to ensure no patient goes without the essential medicine and care they need. This week, the Assembly will be voting on AB 149 (Assemblymembers Cooper, Arambula and Low) to correct the flawed implementation of the new law, which was intended to improve the security of physician prescription pads as a solution to the opioid crisis. Click here to contact your legislators now to encourage their support of AB 149. Talking point and sample letters are provided. The California Board of Pharmacy recently said it would “not make enforcement a priority” if pharmacists choose to fill prescriptions written on security prescription forms that were compliant prior to January 1, but are not compliant with the new serialization requirement. The pharmacy board has urged pharmacists and pharmacies to exercise their best professional judgement when handling these situations, to determine if it is in the best interest of the patient or public health or safety to nonetheless fill such prescriptions. Similarly, the Medical Board of California has also recently issued a memorandum emphasizing the pharmacy board's decision not to aggressively enforce the new requirement. Prescribers should, however, expect to receive calls from pharmacies seeking to validate prescriptions written on non-compliant forms. CMA understands that reordering security prescription forms presents a great expense for many physician practices and is working to ensure that physician are able to comply with this new requirement in a way that does not adversely affect patient care. For more information, including answers to frequently asked questions about the implementation of this new law, see the joint statement from the medical board, pharmacy board and the Department of Justice. Contact: CMA legal information line, (800) 786-4262 or via email. Comments are closed.
