California provides free inhalers to public schools
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California will supply every public school with free albuterol inhalers to treat asthma attacks and other breathing emergencies.
Governor Gavin Newsom signed a policy making the fast-acting medication available to schools for three years, aiming to improve student safety and reduce financial burdens on families. Each public school will receive two metered-dose inhalers and 25 single-use inhalers annually. Previously, schools needed a doctor’s prescription to stock inhalers for student use, which created delays in emergency situations.
State officials removed this requirement to allow quicker responses when students experience respiratory distress. The initiative is part of a broader state effort, CalRx, to lower the cost of essential medicines, including insulin and naloxone. Private schools in California can purchase the inhalers at reduced prices. The state is partnering with Amneal Pharmaceuticals to manage the program and ensure continued access to the medication even after the initial three years of funding.
CalRx and the California School Nurses Organization will also provide free training to public schools on asthma management, inhaler use, and emergency procedures, with similar training available to private schools for a fee. Approximately one million children in California have asthma, and around one-third miss at least a week of school each year due to their symptoms.
Kesa Bruce, director of advocacy for the American Lung Association, stated the program will help ensure students’ safety at school does not depend on their family’s ability to afford medication.
