(a) For the purposes of this article, “clinic” means a surgical clinic licensed pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 1204 of the Health and Safety Code, an outpatient setting accredited by an accreditation agency, as defined in Section 1248 of the Health and Safety Code, or an ambulatory surgical center certified to participate in the Medicare Program under Title XVIII of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1395 et seq.).
(b) A clinic licensed by the board may purchase drugs at wholesale for administration or dispensing, under the direction of a physician and surgeon, to patients registered for care at the clinic, as provided in subdivision (c). A separate license shall be required for each clinic location. A clinic licensed by the board shall notify the board of any change in the clinic’s address on a form furnished by the board. The clinic shall keep records of the kind and amounts of drugs purchased, administered, and dispensed, and the records shall be available and maintained for a minimum of three years for inspection by all properly authorized personnel.
(c) The drug distribution service of a clinic shall be limited to the use of drugs for administration to the patients of the clinic and to the dispensing of drugs for the control of pain and nausea for patients of the clinic. Drugs shall not be dispensed in an amount greater than that required to meet the patient’s needs for 72 hours. Drugs for administration shall be those drugs directly applied, whether by injection, inhalation, ingestion, or any other means, to the body of a patient for his or her immediate needs.
(d) No clinic shall be entitled to the benefits of this section until it has obtained a license from the board.
(e) If a clinic is licensed by the board, any proposed change in ownership or beneficial interest in the licensee shall be reported to the board, on a form to be furnished by the board, at least 30 days prior to the execution of any agreement to purchase, sell, exchange, gift or otherwise transfer any ownership or beneficial interest or prior to any transfer of ownership or beneficial interest, whichever occurs earlier.
(f) Nothing in this section shall limit the ability of a physician and surgeon to prescribe, dispense, administer, or furnish drugs at a clinic as provided in Sections 2241.5, 2242, and 4170.
(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 454, Sec. 3. (SB 1095) Effective January 1, 2013.)