(a)

(1) Pharmacist services are a benefit under the Medi-Cal program, subject to approval by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

(2) The department shall establish a fee

schedule for the list of pharmacist services.

(3) The rate of reimbursement for pharmacist services shall be at percent of the fee

schedule for physician services under the Medi-Cal program, except for medication therapy management (MTM) pharmacist services as described in

Section 14132.969. (b)

(1) The following services are covered pharmacist services that may be provided to a Medi-Cal beneficiary: (

A) Furnishing travel medications, as authorized in clause (3) of subparagraph (

A) of paragraph (10) of subdivision (

a) of

Section of the Business and Professions Code. (

B) Furnishing naloxone hydrochloride, as authorized in

Section 4052.01 of the Business and Professions Code. (

C) Furnishing self-administered hormonal contraception, as authorized in subdivision (

a) of

Section 4052.3 of the Business and Professions Code. (

D) Initiating and administering immunizations, as authorized in

Section 4052.8 of the Business and Professions Code. (

E) Providing tobacco cessation counseling and furnishing nicotine replacement therapy, as authorized in

Section 4052.9 of the Business and Professions Code. (

F) Initiating and furnishing preexposure prophylaxis, as authorized in

Section 4052.02 of the Business and Professions Code. (

G) Initiating and furnishing postexposure prophylaxis, as authorized in

Section 4052.03 of the Business and Professions Code. (

H) Providing MTM pharmacist services in conjunction with the dispensing of qualified specialty drugs, as described in

Section 14132.969.

(2) Covered pharmacist services shall be subject to department protocols and utilization controls. (

c) A pharmacist shall be enrolled as an ordering, referring, and prescribing provider under the Medi-Cal program prior to rendering a pharmacist service that is submitted by a Medi-Cal pharmacy provider for reimbursement pursuant to this section. (d)

(1) The director shall seek any necessary federal approvals to implement this section. This

section shall not be implemented until the necessary federal approvals are obtained and shall be implemented only to the extent that federal financial participation is available.

(2) This

section neither restricts nor prohibits any services currently provided by pharmacists as authorized by law, including, but not limited to, this chapter, or the Medicaid state plan. (

e) Notwithstanding

Chapter 3.5 (commencing with

Section 11340) of Part of Division of Title of the Government Code, the department may implement, interpret, or make specific this section, and any applicable federal waivers and state plan amendments, by means of all-county letters, plan letters, plan or provider bulletins, or similar instructions, without taking regulatory action. By July 1, 2021, the department shall adopt regulations in accordance with the requirements of

Chapter 3.5 (commencing with

Section 11340) of Part of Division of Title of the Government Code. Commencing July 1, 2017, the department shall provide a status report to the Legislature on a semiannual basis, in compliance with

Section of the Government Code, until regulations have been adopted.