Prescription drug refills: prescriber notifications.
AB 1587
California Bills
20250AB__158797ENR INTRODUCED 2026-01-15 AMENDED_ASSEMBLY 2026-03-18 PASSED_ASSEMBLY 2026-04-23 PASSED_SENATE 2026-06-25 ENROLLED 2026-06-29 AB ENR Introduced by Assembly Member Ta LEAD_AUTHOR ASSEMBLY Ta
An act to amend
Section of the Business and Professions Code, relating to prescription drugs. prescription drugs Prescription drug refills: prescriber notifications. Existing law, the Pharmacy Law, provides for the licensure and regulation of pharmacists by the California State Board of Pharmacy. Existing law authorizes a pharmacist to, among other things, perform certain procedures or functions and furnish specified drugs.
Existing law authorizes the refilling of a prescription for a dangerous drug without the authorization of the prescriber if the prescriber is unavailable to authorize the refill and, in the pharmacist’s professional judgment, failure to refill the prescription might interrupt the patient’s ongoing care and have a significant adverse effect on the patient’s well-being. Existing law requires a pharmacist to notify the prescriber, as specified, of any prescription refilled without their authorization. This bill would only require a pharmacist to provide that notification if a prescriber is identified.
MAJORITY NO YES NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read: 4064. (
a) A prescription for a dangerous drug or dangerous device may be refilled without the prescriber’s authorization if the prescriber is unavailable to authorize the refill and if, in the pharmacist’s professional judgment, failure to refill the prescription might interrupt the patient’s ongoing care and have a significant adverse effect on the patient’s well-being. (
b) The pharmacist shall inform the patient that the prescription was refilled pursuant to this section. (
c) The pharmacist shall inform the prescriber within a reasonable period of time of any refills dispensed pursuant to this section, if a prescriber is identified. (
d) The prescriber shall not incur any liability as the result of a refilling of a prescription pursuant to this section. (
e) Notwithstanding
Section or any other law, a person may possess a dangerous drug or dangerous device furnished without prescription pursuant to this section.