BILL ANALYSIS
AB 521
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 521 (Diaz)
As Amended June 3, 2003
Majority vote
HEALTH 14-8 APPROPRIATIONS 17-6
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|Ayes:|Frommer, Chan, Chavez, |Ayes:|Steinberg, Berg, |
| |Chu, Cohn, Goldberg, | |Calderon, Montanez, |
| |Hancock, Koretz, | |Correa, Diaz, Firebaugh, |
| |Montanez, Negrete McLeod, | |Goldberg, Leno, Nation, |
| |Nunez, Ridley-Thomas, | |Negrete McLeod, Nunez, |
| |Salinas, Wolk | |Pavley, Ridley-Thomas, |
| | | |Simitian, Wiggins, Yee |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Pacheco, Bates, Dutton, |Nays:|Bates, Daucher, Haynes, |
| |Haynes, Maze, Nakanishi, | |Pacheco, Runner, |
| |Plescia, Richman | |Samuelian |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Specifies a minimum type size for information provided
from a pharmacist to a patient about the harmful effects of a
medication. Specifically, this bill :
1)Requires, at the request of a patient, that a pharmacist use
at least 12-point type when providing written information to a
patient about the harmful effects of a prescription drug.
2)Applies the above requirement effective January 1, 2006.
EXISTING LAW requires a pharmacist to inform a patient orally or
in writing of the harmful effects of a prescription drug, as
specified, if the drug poses substantial risk to the patient
when the drug is taken in combination with alcohol or if the
drug may impair a person's ability to drive a motor vehicle.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Appropriations Committee
analysis, minor, absorbable costs to the Board of Pharmacy.
Unknown increased costs, likely less than $150,000 to
state-contracting pharmacies, health plans and pharmacy benefit
managers, to revise their forms to meet the 12-point type
requirement.
AB 521
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COMMENTS : According to the National Council on Patient
Information and Education (NCPIE), an often-overlooked public
health problem is the inappropriate use of medicines. NCPIE
states that in the year 2000, nearly three billion retail
prescriptions were dispensed. According to NCPIE, studies show
that up to half of all prescribed medicines are used improperly,
and as a result, preventable medicine-related illnesses annually
account for over $75 billion in doctors' visits, unnecessary
prescriptions, absences and loss of productivity at work,
increases in emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and
nursing home admissions, and even death.
Board of Pharmacy regulations require pharmacists to provide
oral consultation to their patients when requested by the
patient or whenever the pharmacist deems it warranted in the
exercise of his or her professional judgment. In addition,
regulations require consultation whenever a prescription drug
has not previously been dispensed to a patient, or whenever a
prescription drug not previously dispensed to a patient in the
same dosage form, strength or with the same written directions,
is dispensed by the pharmacy. Finally, regulations require that
prior to consultation, a pharmacist must review a patient's drug
therapy and medication record before each prescription drug is
delivered and the review must include screening for severe
potential drug therapy problems. NCPIE emphasizes the important
role of communication between consumers and health care
professionals whenever medicines are prescribed and used. NCPIE
endorses the use of large print written information that answers
questions that patients may have, including what foods, drinks,
other medicines, or activities should be avoided while taking
any given medication. Generally, pharmacists do include written
instructions with each dispensed prescription drug that often
list contraindications and side effects.
According to the author, this bill is necessary because the
inappropriate use of prescription drugs is a problem that is
particularly acute for the elderly. The elderly use more
prescription drugs than any other age group and are more likely
to be taking multiple prescription drugs, which increases the
probability of adverse drug reactions. The insert required by
this bill will provide valuable information in a format that can
be easily read.
AB 521
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Analysis Prepared by : John Gilman / HEALTH / (916) 319-2097
FN: 0001811