Violation

California Code § 87465(i)Medication Disposal Witness

How CCLD inspectors cite this regulation, what providers do to stay clear of it, and where it appears in the public record.

Type B, generalAffects rcfe59 facilities cited in the last 90 days

ℹ️ Educational reference based on public CCLD inspection records. Not legal or compliance advice. Verify requirements with official sources. Full disclaimer →

Regulation text

What California Code § 87465(i) actually says

California Code § 87465(i)

Prescription medications which are not taken with the resident upon termination of services, not returned to the issuing pharmacy, nor retained in the facility as ordered by the resident's physician and documented in the resident's record nor disposed of according to the hospice's established procedures or which are otherwise to be disposed of shall be destroyed in the facility by the facility administrator and one other adult who is not a resident. Both shall sign a record, to be retained for at least three years, which lists the following:

From the field

What providers tell us about this citation

Based on community experience, not official guidance.

59 California RCFEs were cited for improper medication disposal. When a resident discharges or passes away, LPAs check how their leftover medications were handled. Keep a pre-printed disposal log in your medication area with columns for every required field. Having two qualified witnesses sign immediately after destruction prevents a Type B citation.

By the numbers

59^*CCLD: facilities cited in the last 90 days
22^*CCLD: counties where this citation appeared
--^*CCLD: rank among most-common citations
Trajectory: Steady

59 facilities were cited for this in the last 90 days. See if yours is one of them.

Check a facility

What other providers do

Common practices to stay clear of Medication Disposal Witness

Common practices shared by providers. Confirm requirements with your licensing analyst.

Common practices

The facility administrator and one non-resident adult must witness and co-sign the medication destruction
Both witnesses must sign a disposal record listing all required medication details
Maintain completed disposal records for a minimum of three years from the date of destruction
Return medications to the issuing pharmacy or follow hospice procedures as alternatives to on-site destruction

What to avoid

Having a resident witness the destruction instead of a qualified non-resident adult
Discarding medications down the sink or trash without completing the required documentation
Failing to log all required fields such as medication name, strength, and quantity destroyed
Not retaining disposal records for the full three-year period and discarding them early

Regional record

Where this citation appeared in the past 90 days

Citation counts and rates by California county, drawn from CCLD inspection records.

Regional citations for Medication Disposal Witness, last 90 days
County	Citations	Facilities	Citation rate
Los Angeles	9	--	--
Kern	6	--	--
Sacramento	6	--	--
Orange	4	--	--
Ventura	4	--	--
Riverside	3	--	--
San Diego	3	--	--
San Mateo	3	--	--
Santa Clara	3	--	--
Fresno	2	--	--

SOURCE

*CCLD: California Community Care Licensing Divisionviolation_citations2026-05-30Updated weekly

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Answers based on public CCLD data and regulation text. May not reflect recent changes.

What is the medication disposal witness requirement for RCFEs?

When an RCFE disposes of unused prescription medications, the facility administrator and one other adult who is not a resident must both witness the destruction and sign a record. Title 22, Section 87465(i) lists specific details that must be documented, including the medication name, quantity, and date of destruction. This signed record must be kept for at least three years.

How common is the medication disposal witness violation in California assisted living?

According to California CCLD inspection records, 59 RCFEs were cited for improper medication disposal procedures. These are classified as Type B citations, indicating a potential risk that could become serious if left uncorrected. Los Angeles County had 10 citations and Sacramento had 6. The 61 total citations were spread across 23 counties in California.

What happens if an RCFE is cited for improper medication disposal?

A Type B citation requires your facility to submit a plan of correction and maintain proper disposal documentation going forward. CCLD may conduct a follow-up inspection to verify your new procedures. Even though Type B citations carry lower penalties than Type A, a pattern of medication handling violations signals broader compliance problems and invites more frequent inspections.

How do I fix or prevent a medication disposal witness citation?

Always have the administrator and a second non-resident adult present when destroying medications. Use a standardized disposal log that captures every detail required by Section 87465(i). Store completed disposal records in a dedicated binder for at least three years. LPAs check disposal logs during annual inspections, especially after resident discharges or deaths.

Does a medication disposal citation affect my RCFE license?

Yes. Medication management citations are grouped together on your public CCLD record. Repeated disposal violations, combined with other medication deficiencies, can trigger a focused inspection of your entire medication handling system. Families and ombudsman representatives review these records, and multiple citations erode trust in your community's overall care quality.

Related violations

Other citations in this regulation family

This information is educational and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed residential care compliance consultant for guidance specific to your facility. Citation data is sourced from California Community Care Licensing Division public records and is refreshed regularly.

Share ReadyRule: