The term medicines also includes certain articles, devices, and appliances as described in subdivision (b) of this regulation.
For purposes of subdivision (a)(9)(A), products "approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration" means any product for which a premarket notification was cleared by the United States Food and Drug Administration or for which an application for premarket approval was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration.
Medicines are further defined in subdivisions (b) and (c) below.
"Preparations and similar substances" include, but are not limited to, drugs such as penicillin, and other antibiotics, "dangerous drugs" (drugs that require dispensing only on prescription); alcohol (70% solution) and isopropyl; aspirin; baby lotion, oil, and powder; enema preparations; hydrogen peroxide; lubricating jelly; medicated skin creams; oral contraceptives; measles and other types of vaccines; topical creams and ointments; and sterile nonpyrogenic distilled water. Preparations and similar substances applied to the human body in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease qualify as medicines. "Preparations and similar substances" also include Total Parenteral Nutrition (also called TPN), Intradialytic Parenteral Nutrition (also called IDPN), and food provided by way of enteral feeding, except when the TPN, IDPN, or food provided by enteral feeding qualifies as a meal under Regulation 1503. For purposes of this regulation, TPN, IDPN, and enteral feeding are means of providing complete nutrition to the patient; TPN and IDPN are provided in the form of a collection of glucose, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and lipids, TPN being administered intravenously to a patient who is unable to digest food through the gastrointestinal tract and IDPN being administered to hemodialysis patients as an integral part of the hemodialysis treatment; enteral feeding is the feeding of the patient directly into the gastrointestinal tract.
Permanently implanted articles include, but are not limited to, permanently implanted artificial sphincters; bone screws and bone pins; dental implant systems including dental bone screws and abutments; permanently implanted catheters; permanently implanted hydrocephalus devices and their implanted pressure regulating components; implanted defibrillators and implanted leads; pacemakers; tendon implants; testicular gel implants; and ear implants, including the ear implant's interdependent internal and external components. Sutures are also included whether or not they are permanently implanted. A non-returnable, nonreusable needle fused or prethreaded to a suture is regarded as part of the suture.
Implantable articles that do not qualify as "permanently" implanted medicines include, but are not limited to, Chemoport implantable fluid systems; Port-a-Cath systems used for drug infusion purposes; disposable urethral catheters; temporary myocardial pacing leads used during surgery and recovery; and defibrillator programmer and high voltage stimulator used with an implanted defibrillator.
Orthotic devices worn on the body of the person include, but are not limited to, abdominal binders and supports, ace bandages, ankle braces, anti-embolism stockings, athletic supporters (only for patients recovering from rectal or genital surgery), casts, and cast components, cervical supports, neck collars, cervical traction devices, clavicular splints, post-surgical corsets, elbow supports, head halters, pelvic traction devices, post-operative knee immobilizers and braces, legging orthoses, rib belts and immobilizers, rupture holders, sacral belts, sacro-lumbar back braces, shoulder immobilizers, slings, stump shrinkers, sternum supports, support hose (and garter belts used to hold them in place), thumb and finger splints, trusses, and wrist and arm braces. All of the above must be worn on the body of the person and act as a brace, support or correction for body structure to qualify as a medicine. If any part of the orthotic device is not worn on the person, the device is not a medicine for the purposes of this regulation.
Orthopedic shoes and supportive devices for the foot do not qualify as medicines unless they are an integral part of a leg brace or artificial leg or are custom-made biomechanical foot orthoses. "Custom-made biomechanical foot orthosis" means a device that is made on a positive model of the individual patient's foot. The model may be individually constructed from suitable model material such as plaster of Paris, stone, or wax, and may be manually constructed or fabricated using electronic technology.
"Custom-made biomechanical foot orthosis" do not include:
Prosthetic devices that are considered medicines when worn on or in the patient include, but are not limited to, acetabular cups, atrial valves, breast tissue expanders and tissue expanders, cervical cuffs, dacron grafts, heart valves, orbital implant, nerve cups, rhinoplasty prosthesis, neuromuscular electrical stimulators, transcutaneous nerve stimulators, urinary incontinent devices, and wigs and hairpieces prescribed by a physician or podiatrist.
Prosthetic devices that do not qualify as "medicines" include, but are not limited to, air compression pumps and pneumatic garments; noninvasive, temporary pace makers; vacuum/constriction devices used to treat male impotency; auditory, ophthalmic and ocular devices or appliances; and dental prosthetic devices and materials such as dentures, removable or fixed bridges, crowns, caps, inlays, artificial teeth, and other dental prosthetic materials and devices. Sales of such items are subject to tax in the same manner as any other sale of tangible personal property.
Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (b), the following items are specifically excluded from the definition of medicines. Sales of these items are subject to tax in the same manner as any other sale of tangible personal property.
This exemption applies in the same manner to the use of clinical trial medicines during the United States Food and Drug Administration's drug development and approval process. "Clinical trial medicines" are substances or preparations approved as "Investigational New Drugs" by the United States Food and Drug Administration intended for treatment of, and application to, the human body, which are furnished by a pharmaceutical developer, manufacturer, or distributor to a licensed physician and subsequently dispensed, furnished, or administered pursuant to the order of the licensed physician. "Clinical trial medicines" do not include placebos. Placebos are not used for the treatment of a human being and, as such, do not qualify for the exemption provided under this subdivision. Thus, the use of placebos is subject to tax.
Except as provided in Regulation 1591.1(b)(4), tax applies to the sale or use of test kits and equipment used to analyze, monitor, or test samples of cells, tissues, organs and blood, saliva, or other bodily fluids. Such items do not qualify as medicines regardless of whether they are prescribed for an individual by a person authorized to prescribe and dispensed pursuant to a prescription.
Pursuant to section 4081 of the Business and Professions Code, physicians and surgeons and podiatrists must keep accurate records of drugs furnished by them. Any deduction on account of sales of medicines shall be supported by appropriate records.
Name of purchaser
Name of doctor
Date of sale
Item sold
The sale price
Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 18, § 1591
2. Amendment filed 7-31-78 as an emergency; effective upon filing (Register 78, No. 31).
3. Certificate of Compliance filed 10-19-78 (Register 78, No. 42).
4. Amendment of subsections (b)(5) and (c) filed 10-19-78; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 78, No. 42).
5. Amendment filed 10-17-79; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 79, No. 42).
6. Amendment filed 10-18-83; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 83, No. 43).
7. Amendment of subsections (a)-(i), (k)-(m) and (p) filed 9-7-89; operative 10-7-89 (Register 89, No. 36).
8. Amendment of subsections (b)(4), (b)(7), (h), (k) and (m) filed 1-18-94; operative 2-17-94 (Register 94, No. 3).
9. Editorial correction of printing errors in subsections (a)(6) and (l) (Register 94, No. 3).
10. New subsection (n) and subsection relettering filed 7-24-96; operative 8-23-96 (Register 96, No. 30).
11. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (a)(6) and adding new subsection (a)(7) filed 11-19-96 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 96, No. 47).
12. Change without regulatory effect amending subsections (a)(6), (b)(4)(A) and (b)(5), redesignating of former section (c)(4) to new (c)(3), and amending subsections (d)-(h), (k), (l)(1) and (l)(3)(B), filed 9-17-98 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 98, No. 38).
13. Amendment of section heading, section and NOTE filed 2-9-2000; operative 3-10-2000 (Register 2000, No. 6).
14. Amendment of subsections (b)(1), (b)(2) and (b)(5) filed 3-13-2001; operative 4-12-2001 (Register 2001, No. 11).
15. Amendment of subsections (b)(2), (b)(4) and (b)(5) filed 1-26-2004; operative 2-25-2004 (Register 2004, No. 5).
16. Amendment of subsection (a)(9), new subsections (a)(9)(A)-(B) and amendment of subsections (b), (c)(1) and (g) filed 7-27-2006; operative 8-26-2006 (Register 2006, No. 30).
17. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (a)(4), adding subsections (a)(4)(A)-(B), amending subsections (f)(2)(B) and (g)(3) and amending NOTE filed 7-30-2007 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2007, No. 31).
18. New subsection (e)(7) and subsection renumbering filed 11-14-2008; operative 12-14-2008 (Register 2008, No. 46).
19. Amendment of subsection (b)(2) filed 4-29-2009; operative 5-29-2009 (Register 2009, No. 18).
20. Editorial correction of subsections (a)(5) and (e)(6) (Register 2015, No. 26).
21. Amendment of subsections (a)(4), (a)(4)(C)-(a)(6), (a)(8), (a)(9)(A)-(B), (b), (b)(2), (b)(5), (c)(3), (d), (e)(7) and (g)-(g)(1) filed 6-25-2015; operative 10-1-2015 (Register 2015, No. 26).
22. Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-46-20 (2019 CA EO 46-20), dated April 7, 2020, which suspends certain provisions of this section relating to the purchase of personal protective equipment by the state, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
23. Amendment of subsection (f)(2)(A) filed 3-17-2021; operative 3-17-2021. Submitted to OAL for filing and printing only pursuant to Government Code section 15570.40(b) (Register 2021, No. 12).
Note: Authority cited: Section 7051, Revenue and Taxation Code. Reference: Sections 6006 and 6369, Revenue and Taxation Code; and Sections 1200, 1200.1, 1204.1 and 1250, Health and Safety Code.
2. Amendment filed 7-31-78 as an emergency; effective upon filing (Register 78, No. 31).
3. Certificate of Compliance filed 10-19-78 (Register 78, No. 42).
4. Amendment of subsections (b)(5) and (c) filed 10-19-78; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 78, No. 42).
5. Amendment filed 10-17-79; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 79, No. 42).
6. Amendment filed 10-18-83; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 83, No. 43).
7. Amendment of subsections (a)-(i), (k)-(m) and (p) filed 9-7-89; operative 10-7-89 (Register 89, No. 36).
8. Amendment of subsections (b)(4), (b)(7), (h), (k) and (m) filed 1-18-94; operative 2-17-94 (Register 94, No. 3).
9. Editorial correction of printing errors in subsections (a)(6) and (l) (Register 94, No. 3).
10. New subsection (n) and subsection relettering filed 7-24-96; operative 8-23-96 (Register 96, No. 30).
11. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (a)(6) and adding new subsection (a)(7) filed 11-19-96 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 96, No. 47).
12. Change without regulatory effect amending subsections (a)(6), (b)(4)(A) and (b)(5), redesignating of former section (c)(4) to new (c)(3), and amending subsections (d)-(h), (k), (l)(1) and (l)(3)(B), filed 9-17-98 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 98, No. 38).
13. Amendment of section heading, section and Note filed 2-9-2000; operative 3-10-2000 (Register 2000, No. 6).
14. Amendment of subsections (b)(1), (b)(2) and (b)(5) filed 3-13-2001; operative 4-12-2001 (Register 2001, No. 11).
15. Amendment of subsections (b)(2), (b)(4) and (b)(5) filed 1-26-2004; operative 2-25-2004 (Register 2004, No. 5).
16. Amendment of subsection (a)(9), new subsections (a)(9)(A)-(B) and amendment of subsections (b), (c)(1) and (g) filed 7-27-2006; operative 8-26-2006 (Register 2006, No. 30).
17. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (a)(4), adding subsections (a)(4)(A)-(B), amending subsections (f)(2)(B) and (g)(3) and amending Note filed 7-30-2007 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2007, No. 31).
18. New subsection (e)(7) and subsection renumbering filed 11-14-2008; operative 12-14-2008 (Register 2008, No. 46).
19. Amendment of subsection (b)(2) filed 4-29-2009; operative 5-29-2009 (Register 2009, No. 18).
20. Editorial correction of subsections (a)(5) and (e)(6) (Register 2015, No. 26).
21. Amendment of subsections (a)(4), (a)(4)(C)-(a)(6), (a)(8), (a)(9)(A)-(B), (b), (b)(2), (b)(5), (c)(3), (d), (e)(7) and (g)-(g)(1) filed 6-25-2015; operative 10/1/2015 (Register 2015, No. 26).
22. Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-46-20 (2019 CA EO 46-20), dated April 7, 2020, which suspends certain provisions of this section relating to the purchase of personal protective equipment by the state, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
23. Amendment of subsection (f)(2)(A) filed 3-17-2021; operative 3/17/2021. Submitted to OAL for filing and printing only pursuant to Government Code section 15570.40(b) (Register 2021, No. 12).