Calif. pharmacy board provides Rx support to wildfire evacuees

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — As both the Butte and Valley Fire raged in northern California, the state’s board of pharmacy held an emergency meeting to ensure that those affected by the blazes have access to medications. Last week, the board waived certain regulations for pharmacists in 18 counties containing and adjacent to the fire, allowing pharmacists to dispense medication to evacuees, even if their prescriptions aren’t on file with a particular pharmacy. 

The move came as the two fires — which are slowly being contained and have collectively destroyed nearly 2,000 structures, burned more than 146,000 acres and killed two — forced thousands of people out of their homes and California Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency. 

The emergency waiver allows pharmacists to dispense a 30-day supply of medically necessary drugs to a patient or pet, even without a prescription or empty container, excepting sterile compounded prescriptions and controlled substances. The waiver will stay in place until the state of emergency is lifted, California’s board of pharmacy said.