The bill amends the Public Health Code by adding new sections that require hospitals and freestanding surgical outpatient facilities to offer any unused portion of facility-provided drugs, specifically eye drops or ointments, to patients upon their discharge. This applies when the drug was ordered for an ophthalmic surgical procedure or medical care provided to the patient on an inpatient basis, and the unused portion is necessary for the patient's continued treatment. The bill outlines that if a pharmacist dispenses the drug, it must be labeled appropriately, and the prescriber is responsible for counseling the patient on its use, with the counseling requirement waived for pharmacists.

Additionally, the bill mandates that both freestanding surgical outpatient facilities and hospitals comply with the new requirements set forth in section 17773. The definition of "facility-provided drug" is specified to include only eye drops or ointments that are not compounded pharmaceuticals, ensuring clarity in the types of medications covered under this legislation.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 333.1101, 333.25211