Pubdate: Sat, 31 Aug 2002
Pubdate: Mon, 02 Sep 2002
Source: Los Angeles Times (CA)
Copyright: 2002 Los Angeles Times
Contact:  http://www.latimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/248
Author: Charles Ornstein, Times Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange)

BILL OKS FREER SALE OF SYRINGES

Measure Now Goes To The Governor. Sponsors Say It Will Cut Disease; 
Opponents Say It Condones Drug Use.

The Legislature gave its final approval Friday to a measure that would 
allow pharmacies to sell up to 30 syringes, or hypodermic needles, to an 
adult without a prescription.

Supporters say over-the-counter syringe sales would reduce the spread of 
HIV and infectious hepatitis among drug users, saving millions of dollars 
in medical costs.

Opponents of the bill, mainly law enforcement groups, argue that it would 
condone drug use and undermine the accountability provided by the state's 
existing needle-exchange law.

The bill now heads to Gov. Gray Davis. California is one of six states 
that, with some exceptions, require a prescription to buy a syringe.

"This measure saves lives and dollars without any cost to taxpayers," said 
its author, Sen. John Vasconcellos (D-Santa Clara.)

About 50% of the 600,0000 hepatitis C cases and 19% of the more than 
124,000 HIV cases in California are related to needle-sharing, according to 
the California Department of Health Services and the American Journal of 
Public Health. The connection between injectable drug use and HIV is 
especially strong for women and minorities.

Needle exchanges overseen by local governments offer people the chance to 
trade dirty needles for new ones.

Pharmacies would not take over that task under the bill, but would be 
required to offer needle disposal options and provide information about 
prevention and treatment of substance abuse, as well as a toll-free number 
for help.

Separately, the Assembly approved a bill that would allow the state 
Department of Managed Health Care to regulate the types of prescription 
drugs covered by health plans. Health maintenance organizations would need 
approval from the department before they could reject classes of drugs.

The department has been seeking that authority after state courts ruled in 
two cases that regulators didn't have the authority to force HMOs to cover 
the impotence drug Viagra or the obesity drug Xenical.

The bill needs approval from the Senate, where it passed in a different 
form. Daniel Zingale, director of Managed Health Care, said the bill's 
importance goes beyond Viagra or Xenical.

Health insurers have opposed the bill because they said it would give 
regulators too much power.

"It's not that we want to see people deprived of drugs they need," said 
Walter Zelman, president of the California Assn. of Health Plans. "But 
we're just very concerned about the need to provide employers and consumers 
with benefits packages that they can afford."
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MAP posted-by: Tom