Pharmacy Focus: Policy Edition - Overview of California's Stop Dangerous Pharmacies Act

Ron Lanton, esq, partner at Lanton Law, discusses California's Stop Dangerous Pharmacies Act (AB 1286), which was signed into law in late 2023. He provides an overview of the key provisions of the new law, including authorizing pharmacists to make staffing decisions to ensure safety, requiring reporting of medication errors and unsafe conditions, and implementing enforcement measures if chains do not comply with the staffing and safety regulations. He also anticipates that this law will help improve patient safety by empowering pharmacy staff to speak up about unsafe environments and preventing fatigue or distractions that could lead to medication errors. It is seen as an important first step at the state level to address issues reported at understaffed chain pharmacies.