SACRAMENTO, Calif. — People in California who are battling opioid addiction will be able to obtain vital medications and treatment through mobile pharmacies in 2024.
Assembly Bill 663 - Mobile pharmacies
AB 663 allows mobile pharmacies to carry and dispense medicines like buprenorphin, which is used to treat opioid addiction.
What’s new
Starting Jan. 1., patients will have access to mobile clinics that are now allowed to dispense opioid addiction medicine. Patients will also have access to enroll in treatment and recovery services for drug addiction.
The new law will assist local efforts to treat opioid use disorder, help prevent deaths and increase mobile access to medical treatment, which has become critical for people experiencing homelessness.
California cities and counties will be able to permit mobile pharmacies to operate as an "extension", operating under the same pharmacy license helped by the local government or hospital.
Bipartisan support
The law, authored by Select Committee on Fentanyl and Overdose Prevention Chair Assemblymember Matt Haney, received bipartisan support before it was signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
“Mobile pharmacies will play a critical role in expanding access to care, particularly for patients in rural or underserved areas,” said Haney.
According to Haney, mobile pharmacies will help hundreds of thousands of Californians who suffer from opioid disorder. Medication can help in treating the illness that causes withdrawal symptoms, intense cravings and risky behavior that puts people at risk.
“We can increase access to life-saving medication for people experiencing an opioid addiction by removing these logistical barriers. We can ensure that patients will receive comprehensive treatment in order to overcome their addiction and achieve long-term recovery," said Haney.
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