SENIOR SENATE PROPOSAL NO. 19

INTRODUCED BY SENATOR KIM-SELBY

(COAUTHOR:  ASSEMBLY MEMBER FROMM)

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SP 19:  MEDICINE MANAGEMENT REVIEW BY PHARMACISTS FOR SENIORS.

UNDER EXISTING LAW, PHARMACISTS IN THE STATE ARE LICENSED AND REGULATED BY THE CALIFORNIA STATE BOARD OF PHARMACY WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO ENACT LEGISLATION WHICH WOULD AUTHORIZE PHARMACISTS TO REVIEW MEDICINE MANAGEMENT FOR SENIORS.

VOTE:  MAJORITY.

SP 19:  RELATING TO MEDICINE MANAGEMENT REVIEW BY PHARMACISTS FOR SENIORS

WHEREAS, OLDER ADULTS ARE MORE LIKELY THAN OTHER AGE GROUPS TO HAVE ONE OR MORE CHRONIC ILLNESSES OR MEDICAL CONDITIONS; AND

WHEREAS, SENIORS ARE MORE LIKELY THAN OTHER AGE GROUPS TO BE TAKING A COMBINATION OF MEDICATIONS, WHETHER PRESCRIPTION, NONPRESCRIPTION, OR TRADITIONAL, RESULTING IN A GREATER POTENTIAL FOR ADVERSE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN MEDICATIONS; AND

WHEREAS, SEVERAL AGE-RELATED PHYSICAL CHANGES CAN AFFECT THE WAY PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, NONPRESCRIPTION DRUGS, VITAMINS, AND HERBAL MEDICINES ACT IN THE BODY, RESULTING IN DIFFERENT REACTIONS AND RESULTS BETWEEN SENIOR PATIENTS AND PATIENTS IN OTHER AGE GROUPS; AND

WHEREAS, ADVERSE INTERACTIONS OF MEDICATIONS, MISUSE OF MEDICATIONS, AMD OVERUSE OF MEDICATIONS PRODUCE UNWANTED SIDE-EFFECTS, DISORIENTATION THAT MAY CAUSE INJURIOUS FALLS, AND ADDITIONAL EXPENSES TO TREAT THESE IMPACTS; AND

WHEREAS, PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF RETIRED PERSONS' SENIOR MEDICATION AWARENESS AND TRAINING PROGRAM HAVE DEMONSTRATED THE BENEFITS OF EDUCATING SENIORS REGARDING THEIR MEDICAL REGIMENS; AND

WHEREAS, PHARMACISTS ARE IN A UNIQUE POSITION TO ADVISE SENIOR PATIENTS REGARDING THEIR MEDICINES, THE APPROPRIATE USE OF THEIR MEDICINES, AND THE POSSIBILITY AND DANGER OF ADVERSE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN MEDICINES; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR SENATE AND THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2002 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT PHARMACISTS BE AUTHORIZED TO REVIEW MEDICINE MANAGEMENT FOR SENIORS; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION WHICH WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SET FORTH IH THIS MEASURE; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE, THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

RN0215307

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