Gov. Greg Abbott (R) announced several appointments to the Pharmacy (TSBP). Stacy Hightower, who works at the Las Colinas Pharmacy, Compounding and Wellness in Irving, has been appointed to fill the pharmacy technician slot. Reappointed to the Board are pharmacists Donnie Lewis and Donna Montemayor and public member Rick Tisch. Their terms will expire on August 31, 2031. 

Also in Texas, the state will receive $1.4 billion in federal funding from CMS over five years to improve rural health care across the state. Texas will receive approximately $281 million annually during fiscal years 2026-2030. The Health and Humans Services Commission (HHSC) is currently hiring attorneys and procurement staff for this program and expects the initial flow of funds to arrive in early February. HHSC will develop processes for projects involving direct distribution to local entities via direct awards, with those entities then distributing funds to others. HHSC will also determine procedures for projects that will be managed through its own procurement efforts. More information is available on the Provider Finance Department's website.  

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

The Health and Human Services Commission's (HHSC) Vendor Drug Program (VDP) Medicaid hosted a quarterly pharmacy stakeholder meeting. One issue discussed was the usual and customary policy changes that VDP is making as a result of a new statute, HB 2402, requiring a pharmacy to exclude any fee, charge or rate offered as part of a monthly fee-based membership discount program when determining the usual and customary charge the pharmacies put on fee-for-service pharmacy claims. The proposed rule amendments went through an informal comment period in November 2025, and VDP told stakeholders that they are reviewing the comments received. NACDS and the other Texas pharmacy groups raised concerns about the recent SureScripts/GoodRx announcement and asked that the rule be revised and reissued as a draft in light of this new development.  

Also in Texas, the Board of Pharmacy posted the agenda for the February 3 quarterly meeting in Austin. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

Gov. Greg Abbott (R) announced the appointment of Amanda Crawford as the new Insurance Commissioner, replacing Cassie Brown, who recently announced that she would be retiring on February 2. 

Also in Texas, House Speaker Dustin Burrows (R) requested that all House Committee chairs submit their interim charges by February 9. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) requested Senators provide their interim charge recommendations by February 20.  

Also in Texas, the Health and Human Service Commission's Vendor Drug Program (Medicaid) Policy team is hosting a quarterly Pharmacy Stakeholder meeting on January 21 at 9:00 am Central Time. Anyone interested in joining the calls needs to contact vdp-policy@hhs.texas.gov to preregister to receive the calendar invite and slide deck.  

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

Insurance Commissioner Cassie Brown announced that she will be retiring on February 2, after more than four years of leading the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI).

Also in Texas, the Texas Pharmaceutical Initiative (TPI) Board announced that they are sending a Request for Information (RFI) to companies that believe they can operate a single PBM for the 1.4 million state beneficiaries covered by public higher education insurance, the Employees Retirement System of Texas, the Teacher Retirement System of Texas, the Texas Criminal and Juvenile Justice systems and other individuals served by the Health and Human Services Commission. TPI’s plan is due on Gov. Greg Abbott’s (R) desk by June 1, 2026.

Finally in Texas, the legislature is not in session in 2026.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

In response to the Board of Pharmacy’s (TSBP) request for input on the strategic plan, NACDS made several recommendations to pursue policy changes that will benefit public health.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed into law HB 25, legislation allowing pharmacists to dispense ivermectin without requiring a prescription order from a licensed healthcare practitioner effective December 4.  

The second 30-day special legislative session ended early on September 4.  

Also in Texas, the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) sent CMS a state plan amendment regarding substitutions when there are drug shortages. Considering CMS is encouraging states to do this, Texas is expecting quick approval.  

Also in Texas, the Board of Pharmacy posted the agenda for the September 25 Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) Advisory Committee meeting.  

Also in Texas, the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) Vendor Drug Program (VDP) is currently accepting stakeholder comments on requiring a prescription for the COVID-19 At-Home Test Kit. Currently, at-home COVID-19 test kits are available without a prescription. The policy change includes requiring a prescription for test kits filled and dispensed for members in Medicaid and CHIP. HHSC does not propose changing the quantity limit of a maximum of four test kits per month.  

Also in Texas, the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) issued a Texas COVID-19 Vaccine Information Statement, outlining the benefits, risks, development process, long-term studies, legal protections and adverse event reporting related to the COVID-19 vaccine. Pharmacies are required to provide patients with this document and obtain written informed consent from the patient as a result of HB 4535, which took effect on September 1.  

Finally in Texas, NACDS submitted the state survey on the Rural Health Transformation Program funds. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

The second 30-day special legislative session convened on August 26, 2025. 

Also in Texas, HB 25, legislation allowing pharmacists to dispense ivermectin without a prescription, was signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott (R). The bill requires the Board of Pharmacy (TSBP) to adopt standardized procedures and protocols for pharmacists to follow.  

Also in Texas, HB 7, legislation that strengthens existing law on abortion-inducing drugs, will allow private citizens to sue anyone who manufactures, distributes, mails or provides abortion medication to or from Texas, passed the House and is awaiting final approval in the Senate before heading to Gov. Greg Abbott's (R) desk. 

Finally in Texas, HB 4535, which passed during the regular session and went into effect on September 1, 2025, is aimed at ensuring that Texans are equipped with the information they need to make informed medical decisions by requiring written informed consent prior to any COVID-19 vaccination. The Department of State Health Service (DSHS) created a COVID-19 Vaccine Information Statement to be used as a handout at the pharmacy to comply with the law. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

The 30-day special legislative session is set to officially conclude on August 19. However, many Democratic lawmakers are currently out of the state, which means the House cannot conduct business without a quorum. As a result, House Speaker Dustin Burrows (R) announced that if a quorum is not present, the House will adjourn sine die on August 15. If this occurs, Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has pledged to immediately call for another special session. 

Also in Texas, at the August 8 meeting, the Board of Pharmacy adopted rules on prescription delivery, allowing certain prescription drugs to be delivered by drones and contract carriers. The rules take effect on the date that they are published in the Texas Register. 

Also in Texas, the Board of Pharmacy members elected HEB pharmacist Donna Montemayor to serve at Vice President of the Board and Donnie Lewis, RPh to serve as Treasurer. 

Also in Texas, on September 1, the Health and Human Services Commission's (HHSC) Vendor Drug Program (VDP) will begin identifying some drugs with temporary non-preferred (TNP) status. TNP drugs are new-to-market drugs available on the Medicaid formulary but that have not yet been reviewed by the state's Drug Utilization Review Board for a preferred drug list status, either preferred or non-preferred.  

Also in Texas, HHSC is encouraging pharmacies to enroll in Healthy Texas Women (HTW), offering women's health and family planning services at no cost to eligible Texans. More information on the program can be found on the HTW website. Pharmacies can enroll as participating HTW providers when completing the enrollment process through the Texas Medicaid & Healthcare Partnership's (TMHP's) Provider Enrollment and Management System (PEMS). Pharmacies are automatically enrolled in HTW when completing the Medicaid enrollment unless the pharmacy unchecks the HTW participation box. The HTW Provider Certification and Attestation form does not apply to pharmacies. See the TMHP PEMS website for enrollment information. 

Also in Texas, HHSC removed the non-preferred status from the generic methylphenidate patch products on the preferred drug list effective August 11, as a result of manufacturer-reported backorders due to supply shortages. 

Finally in Texas, HHSC published an update to the Clinical Prior Authorization Assistance Chart (PDF). HHSC requires managed care organizations (MCOs) to implement specific clinical prior authorizations for clients enrolled in managed care. Usage of other clinical prior authorizations will vary between MCOs at the discretion of each MCO. Refer to the Pharmacy Provider Procedure Manual for more information about required clinical prior authorizations in managed care. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

The 30-day special legislative session entered its third week with high drama, as Democrat lawmakers fled the state to prevent Republicans from holding a vote in the House on a new congressional map that was approved by the House Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting. The Democrats face a $500 fine for every day they break quorum. The Texas House voted 85-6 on August 4 to track down and arrest more than 50 Democrat lawmakers. House Speaker Dustin Burrows (R) signed civil warrants, empowering the House sergeant-at-arms and state troopers to arrest and bring them to the Capitol.

Also in Texas, Diabetes News You Can Use is a free news bulletin from the Department of State Health Services (DSHS). It is compiled by the Diabetes Prevention and Control Program and highlights information and news related to diabetes.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.