California Governor Gavin Newsom today announced a groundbreaking expansion of the CalRx® initiative, providing free, life-saving emergency asthma medication to all 10,000 public and charter schools across the state. Partnering with Amneal Pharmaceuticals, the School Albuterol Access Initiative will supply emergency albuterol inhalers and spacers at no cost for three years, starting next week, marking a national first in school health.
Governor Newsom emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “No child should be left gasping for air because their school doesn’t have an inhaler. This initiative lets us all breathe easier by equipping schools with the right tools to respond to potentially life-threatening asthma attacks.” Approximately one million children in California suffer from asthma, with one in three experiencing active symptoms missing at least a week of school annually. Albuterol, a rescue inhaler, quickly relaxes airway muscles to treat sudden breathing difficulties, preventing emergencies.
The 2025–26 California budget allocated funds for schools to receive an annual stock of two albuterol inhalers and 25 disposable spacers. Private schools can purchase these products at significantly reduced prices. Kesa Bruce, Director of Advocacy for the American Lung Association, applauded the move, saying, “For a child experiencing an asthma emergency, immediate access to albuterol can be lifesaving.” Dr. Eric Ball, Chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics, California, added, “No parent should have to worry that a preventable gap in access could become an emergency.”
To ensure effective implementation, CalRx® is collaborating with the California School Nurses Organization (CSNO) to offer free training guidelines to public school districts on recognizing symptoms and emergency albuterol use. A statewide webinar on August 25, 2026, will provide further details. Amneal Pharmaceuticals will establish an easy-to-use ordering system for schools, utilizing a statewide albuterol “standing order” signed by Dr. Erica Pan, CDPH Director, which eliminates the need for individual prescriptions.
This initiative is the third life-saving and cost-saving drug program under CalRx®, following biosimilar insulin and over-the-counter naloxone, demonstrating California's commitment to improving school health, expanding medication access, and supporting consistent school attendance. Schools can find more information on the CDPH and CalRx websites.