Better Health Pharmacy
No controlled drugs | No insurance | No copays
- We are a non-profit facility. Because our medications are donated to us, we offer them to you at no charge and with no copays.
- Our pharmacy is licensed by the California Board of Pharmacy. All of our donating facilities are also licensed and pass our donor criteria. All donated medications are inspected once received by our pharmacy staff. Before dispensing, a pharmacist has to inspect the medication as well.
- California medication donation laws do not allow us to receive and dispense controlled drugs. These include pain medications like Norco, Vicodin, Percocet, Oxycontin, Codeine; anxiety medications like Ativan & Valium; ADHD medications like Adderall and Ritalin, etc.
- California’s Good Samaritan Law, Health and Safety Code Section 150200, allows for many types of eligible donors to Better Health Pharmacy. However, currently the majority of the medications are donated from licensed, in good standing, skilled nursing facilities throughout California.
- We do not accept medication donations from patients; it is prohibited by California Drug Donation laws.
- If you have unwanted medications, it is important that you dispose of them safely. Please do not dispose of them in your trash, down the drain or in your toilet. Use the interactive map to find drop-off locations for unwanted medications.
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Your questions answered
We are a non-profit facility. Because our medications are donated to us, we offer them to you at no charge and with no copays. There is NO CASH in the pharmacy.
California medication donation laws do not allow us to receive and dispense controlled drugs. These include pain medications like Norco, Vicodin, Percocet, Oxycontin, Codeine; anxiety medications like Ativan & Valium; ADHD medications like Adderall & Ritalin, etc.
California’s Good Samaritan Law, Health and Safety Code Section 150200, allows for many types of eligible donors to Better Health Pharmacy. However, currently the majority of the medications are donated from licensed, in good standing, skilled nursing facilities throughout California.
Our pharmacy is licensed by the California Board of Pharmacy. All of our donating facilities are also licensed and pass our donor criteria. All donated medications are inspected once received by our pharmacy staff. Before dispensing, a pharmacist has to inspect the medication as well.
Anyone with a valid prescription, and provided we must have the medication in stock, can receive medication from the Better Health Pharmacy.
Our pharmacy is supplied with medications donated by other healthcare organizations. Due to the random nature of donations, the availability of specific medications cannot be guaranteed. We apologize and will transfer any prescription you may have on file to the pharmacy of your choice.
Our medication supplies are not guaranteed each time since we cannot predict what will be donated to us. In this case, we can have your prescription transferred to another pharmacy. Depending on your prescription coverage, you may be charged at the other pharmacy.
You can call the pharmacy at (408) 794-0564.
Unused medication wastage
Measured as financial cost of medications discarded annually in skilled nursing facilities
Need for free medications
About 23 percent of American adults miss doses or skip prescriptions due to cost⁴
Restricted access to medications associated with⁵:
- Worsened health outcomes
- Increased risk of cardiovascular events
Other possible consequences:
- About half families filing for bankruptcies due to healthcare debt⁶
- Over $18 billion dollars spent on Emergency Department visits that could be avoided⁷
- Disposing of Unused Drugs Harms Our Environment and Our Health.
- Unused medication is currently dumped or burned and ends up in our waterways and our air.
Citations
- Senate Bill 798/1329: Surplus Medication Collection & Distribution. SCVHHS Policy & Procedure. A7170-415. April 2013.
- www.SIRUM.org
- Gorenstein, D. “The shocking cost of wasted prescription pills.” Marketplace. National Public Radio. Los Angeles, CA, 10 Dec. 2014. Radio.
- Morgan S, Kennedy J. Prescription Drug Accessibility and Affordability in the United States and Abroad. Commonwealth Fund. 2010; 89: 1-12.
- Heisler M, Langa K, et al. The health effects of restricting prescription medication use because of cost. Med Care. 2004 Jul;42(7):626-34.
- Himmelstein DU, Warren E, et al. Illness And Injury As Contributors To Bankruptcy. Health Aff. 2005: W5-63-W5-73.
- Choudhry L, Douglass M, et al. The Impact of Community Health Centers & Community-Affiliated Health Plans on Emergency Department Use. Natl Assoc Comm Health Centers. 2007: 1-18.
- http://alumni.stanford.edu/get/page/magazine/article/?article_id=33475. Accessed 10/13/15.
Be a Better Health Pharmacy Volunteer
Why?
- Gain experience working in a pharmacy
- Make a difference in the lives of people in your community
- Be a pioneer at the first and only free pharmacy in California
- Network with other interns, technicians, pharmacists
What are typical volunteer duties?
- Maintain pharmacy inventory
- Answer phones and provide customer service to callers
- Participate in health fairs and promotional events
What are the commitments?
- 240 hours total, 3 to 4 hour shifts during business hours: Tuesday through Friday 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Interested? Have more questions?
- Please contact [email protected]
Volunteer process
- Volunteer application
- Health clearance (immunization history, TB test, annual flu shot)
- Background check