Trending News Today: California Pharmacists Can Now Dispense PrEP Without Prescriptions

New legislation passed in California on Monday will allow pharmacists to dispense pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) without a physician’s prescription, The Associated Press reported. According to the article, supporters of the law say it will improve access and help reduce the stigma surrounding the drugs, especially in rural areas and among minorities. The California Medical Association was initially opposed to the legislation but became neutral after it was amended to limit the number of PrEP pills patients can get without a physician’s prescription to 60 days, the article reported.

A recent study found that black individuals and patients of certain ethnicities were less likely to be prescribed newer diabetes medications compared with white patients, MD Magazine reported. According to the article, the researchers conducted a retrospective analysis of 84,452 patients with type 2 diabetes at 164 primary care practices from 2012 through 2016. Overall, the study found that Asian patients were less likely than their white counterparts to be prescribed insulin, SGLT2 inhibitors, and GLP-1 agonists, and black patients were also less likely than white patients to be prescribed SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 agonists, the article reported.

Kroger Co and Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc will both stop selling e-cigarettes at their stores, Reuters reported. According to the article, Kroger announced it would discontinue sales at its stores and fuel centers after selling through its current inventory and Walgreens said it will stop selling e-cigarette products as health officials continue to examine the issue. The move comes weeks after Walmart said it will stop the sale of e-cigarette products in its stores, the article reported.