Dr Kimura

Importance of Legislation for Student Pharmacists

  • Legislative bills and regulations impact the practice and daily responsibilities of pharmacists.

  • Understanding bills that pertain to pharmacy is essential for students.

  • Student pharmacists can engage in advocacy and influence change.

  • The practice of pharmacy is evolving due to new legislation and regulations.

Legislative Basics

Structure of California Legislature

  • Two Houses:

    • Senate (Upper House)

    • Assembly (Lower House)

  • Proposed laws are referred to as bills, authored solely by legislators.

Political Composition

  • Democratic Dominance:

    • Democrats hold 32 out of 40 Senate seats and 62 out of 80 Assembly seats.

    • With supermajorities, they can make significant legislative changes without Republican support.

Legislative Committees

  • Organized by policy area:

    • Senate Committees: 21 policy committees

    • Assembly Committees: 28 policy committees

  • Key committees for pharmacy-related bills include:

    • Business and Professions Committee

    • Health Committee

    • Appropriations Committee

Legislative Process Overview

  • Key Voting Stages:

    • Bill introduction and committee assignment

    • Committee and appropriations votes

    • Floor vote and concurrence vote

    • Governor’s desk for final approval

Public Involvement

  • Public hearings enable lobbyists and the public to testify in support or opposition of bills, which may influence amendments.

Concept to Legislation

Identifying Issues

  • Engagement with the Community Pharmacy SIG identifies key issues (quotas, staffing, pay, hours).

  • Quotas identified as a major concern leading to legislative action.

Securing Legislative Support

  • Present data, studies, and member experiences to illustrate the need for a bill.

  • Provide a proposed resolution and draft language for the bill.

  • Fully brief legislators on policy and political considerations.

CPhA Sponsored Bills (2023-2024)

  • AB 317 (Weber):

    • Coverage for services performed by pharmacists at in-network and out-of-network pharmacies.

    • Status: Signed into law, October 7, 2023.

  • SB 339 (Wiener):

    • Requires coverage for HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis services provided by pharmacists.

    • Status: Signed into law, February 6, 2024.

  • SB 966 (Wiener):

    • Regulation of Pharmacy Benefits Managers (PBMs) for consumer protections.

    • Status: Vetoed by Governor, September 28, 2024.

Grassroots Advocacy

Your Role in Advocacy

  • Build relationships with elected officials.

  • Volunteer for campaigns and participate in local events.

  • Educate policymakers and hold pharmacy tours.

  • Respond to legislative alerts for active participation.

Looking Ahead

  • AB 317 Implementation: Task force ensuring effective legislation rollout.

  • PBM Reform: Engagement with Governor's office for next steps.

Standard of Care

Definition

  • Refers to the degree of care provided by a reasonable licensee with similar qualifications.

Benefits

  • Flexibility for pharmacists within their practice.

  • Support for comprehensive medication management and preventative care initiatives.

Conclusion

  • The California Pharmacists Association emphasizes the evolving nature of pharmacy legislation and encourages active student involvement in becoming knowledgeable and engaged advocates.