BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  SB 204
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   July 2, 2014

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                  Mike Gatto, Chair

                    SB 204 (Corbett) - As Amended:  June 10, 2014 

          Policy Committee:                             HealthVote: 13-5
                       Business and Professions         Vote: 8-4

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:              No

           SUMMARY  

          This bill requires the Board of Pharmacy (BOP) to conduct  
          surveys of pharmacists and vendors of electronic health records  
          (EHRs) to evaluate the use of standardized directions on  
          prescription labels. It also requires the BOP to report the  
          findings of these surveys in the aggregate at its July 2016  
          board meeting, and to publish findings on its website.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          $50,000 in estimated costs to the BOP (Contingent Fund of the  
          BOP) to contract for the mandated surveys.

           COMMENTS  

           1)Purpose  . According to the author, although the BOP adopted  
            regulations to develop a patient-centered prescription label  
            and standardized directions for use in 2010, the BOP does not  
            know how many doctors are using these standardized directions,  
            nor do they have any method for determining whether or not  
            pharmacies are utilizing them.  This bill is sponsored by the  
            California Pan-Ethnic Health Network.     

           2)Background  . In 2010, pursuant to SB 472 (Corbett, 2007), the  
            BOP adopted regulations to develop a patient-centered  
            prescription label and standardized directions for use.  An  
            example of a standardized direction for use described in the  
            BOP regulations is "Take 2 [insert appropriate dosage form] in  
            the morning, and Take 2 [insert appropriate dosage form] at  
            bedtime." The results of the survey mandated by this bill are  
            intended to help the BOP identify if changes that would make  








                                                                  SB 204
                                                                  Page  2

            the standardized directions more effective for consumers,  
            pharmacists and EHR vendors.  

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Lisa Murawski / APPR. / (916) 319-2081