California Senate committee tables PSE Rx-only bill

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California State Senate Health Committee on Wednesday tabled a bill that would require a prescription for the purchase of a pseudoephedrine product, exempting children's liquid formulations.

The bill initially failed to pass the committee by a vote of 2-2 with five no-votes. Subsequently, the committee placed the bill up for reconsideration by a vote of 7-0 with two no-votes. No subsequent hearing date has been posted the Senate's website.

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores reaffirmed its opposition to this piece of legislation in a statement released Friday. “Requiring a prescription for over-the-counter products containing pseudoephedrine would be a cure worse than the disease,” said NACDS president and CEO Steve Anderson.  “A prescription requirement would disempower patients in their own health care and would only increase healthcare costs.”