In late August, California Governor Newsom announced a program making emergency asthma medication free and available at public and charter schools across the state. Through CalRx, California will provide emergency albuterol inhalers and spacers at no cost for three years — helping schools respond immediately when a child is struggling to breathe.
As RAMP’s Director Anne Kelsey Lamb noted in the Governor’s press release, “California has been leading the way in comprehensive asthma management, including Medi-Cal coverage of home-based asthma interventions and innovative policies to reduce outdoor air pollution. Providing access to quick-relief medications, with appropriate training for school staff, is a critical component of a comprehensive approach to improving asthma outcomes — another example of California’s leadership that will quite literally help children breathe easier.”
To support implementation, CalRx is partnering with the California School Nurses Organization (CSNO) to provide asthma and stock albuterol training guidelines to public school districts at no cost.
For additional information about the program, check out these resources or visit our resource section for even more information:
- State press release
- CA Department of Public Health’s albuterol standing order
- A media interview with the Governor about the program