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Board reiterates guidance on Rite Aid closures; urges pharmacists to assist patients with transfers and emergency refills
Summary
Board staff reminded licensees and the public about emergency refill provisions and posted subscriber alerts following the Rite Aid bankruptcy and store closures; board issued a joint statement with other state healing‑arts boards and plans ongoing outreach to mitigate patient disruption.
The California State Board of Pharmacy reissued guidance for pharmacies and patients following recent Rite Aid store closures and the company’s bankruptcy proceedings, urging licensees to use emergency refill authority and to assist patients whose prescription files are transferred as part of store‑closure asset sales.
Executive Officer Anne Sodergren told the board staff released a subscriber alert on May 22 advising pharmacies to begin assisting affected patients and reminding licensees about Business and Professions Code 4064 emergency refill provisions. In response to public comment and stakeholder input the board said it would issue the alert again and is coordinating with other state agencies to provide additional information and resources to licensees and patients.
The board also released a joint statement with the Department of Consumer Affairs, the Medical Board of California and the Osteopathic Medical Board to emphasize cross‑agency coordination. Anne Sodergren said the board has placed a banner on its website and an online pharmacy‑locator tool to help patients find nearby pharmacies and that staff are adding guidance reminding patients to check with their health plan to confirm whether a receiving pharmacy is in their insurer’s network.
Public commenters described on‑the‑ground impacts in communities with limited pharmacy access. Sean (California Pharmacists Association) and other commenters relayed examples of small communities where closures leave one remaining pharmacy stretched to meet demand. Board members and staff noted that asset transfers for prescription files are handled through bankruptcy and sale processes and that pharmacies receiving files are required to accept transferred prescription records, but the processes are complex and evolving as transactions are finalized.
Board staff said inspectors and communications staff are working to provide additional outreach materials and that the board would continue to coordinate with the Medical Board and other agencies to reduce patient disruption. The board called on licensees to use established legal authorities — including emergency refill provisions — to maintain continuity of care while transactions complete and warned patients to contact their health plan when confronted with an out‑of‑network receiving pharmacy.
