The Board of Pharmacy posted the rules adopted at the November 5 quarterly board meeting.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

While the 89th legislature will convene at Noon on January 14, 2025, lawmakers have already begun prefiling bills this week. Several bills of interest to pharmacies include:

• Pete Flores (R) re-filed legislation (SB 254) that would allow pharmacists independent authority to order and administer immunizations to anyone three years of age and older without a prescription order.
• John Bucy (D) re-filed clean-up legislation (HB 632) on dispensing emergency insulin.
• Donna Howard (D) re-filed a bill (HB 845) that would allow pharmacists under a written protocol to furnish treatment without a prescription to a patient after a positive CLIA flu or strep test.
• Matt Shaheen (R) re-filed legislation (HB 1027) removing restrictions on operating telepharmacies.

Also in Texas, the House Republican Caucus is scheduled to meet December 7, 2024, to endorse a candidate for Speaker.

Also in Texas, the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Diabetes Prevention and Control Program updated materials, including two diabetes educational brochures — Could You Have Diabetes? and Could You Have Prediabetes? These brochures provide information regarding diabetes and prediabetes risk factors and symptoms, helping individuals determine their risk.

Finally in Texas, at the Drug Utilization Review Board’s late October meeting, the board recommended clinical prior authorizations, changes to the preferred drug list and retrospective drug utilization criteria. The next quarterly meeting will be held on January 31, 2025.

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

The Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) posted the biannual specialty drug list. 

Also in Texas, the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) combined the individual weekly influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19 surveillance reports into one report called the Texas Respiratory Virus Surveillance Report. A new Respiratory Illness Interactive Dashboard contains respiratory illness data including emergency department visits, hospitalizations and deaths associated with flu, RSV and COVID-19.  

Also in Texas, the DSHS offers an Immunization Toolkit with educational resources to help Texans understand the importance of protecting themselves and others with the flu vaccine.  

Also in Texas, the quarterly meeting of the Board of Pharmacy will be on November 5. The Board posted the agenda and will livestream the meeting.  

Finally in Texas, the Board of Pharmacy posted the October newsletter. 

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

The Drug Utilization Board discussed these agenda items on October 25.

Also in Texas, the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) published the 2024-25 monthly prophylaxis for RSV on October 1. Review the schedule for each region’s start and end dates.

Finally in Texas, the Medicaid Vendor Drug Program (VDP) posted the October specialty drug list.

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

The Texas Pharmaceutical Initiative (TPI) Board established by HB 4990 (2023) submitted its business plan recommendations to Gov. Greg Abbott (R), the Legislature and the Legislative Budget Board on September 30. TPI’s goal is to provide greater, and more cost-effective access to prescription drugs and essential medical supplies to employees, dependents and retirees of public higher education systems; members of the Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS); members of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS); individuals under the Texas Department of Criminal Justice or Texas Juvenile Justice Department; and individuals served by health and human services programs, including Medicaid and the Child Health Insurance Program.

Also in Texas, last month, the Health and Human Services Commission’s (HHSC) Vendor Drug Program (VDP announced that HHSC suspended its efforts to conduct pharmacy cost of dispensing and ingredient cost studies. The reason given was that “As in recent past legislative sessions, the 89th Legislature may choose to contemplate pharmacy reimbursement matters which could significantly influence how HHSC approaches and obtains necessary appropriations for pharmacy reimbursement in both fee-for-service and managed care settings.”

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

The Texas Pharmaceutical Initiative (TPI) Board is meeting on September 23.

Also in Texas, Speaker Dade Phelan (R) appointed Rick Perry (R), former Governor of Texas and Secretary of Energy under the Trump Administration, as a senior advisor to his leadership team.

Also in Texas, the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) resolved the issue of providers receiving errors when submitting Unsolicited Vaccine Updates (VXU) messages through data exchange for influenza vaccines. The seasonal influenza vaccines for 2024–2025 have been updated in ImmTrac2 as of Aug 30, 2024. Please refer to the Fall Season Respiratory Vaccine Codes | Immunization Information Systems (IIS) | CDC for the correct codes to report for influenza 2024–2025 vaccines to ImmTrac2.

Finally in Texas, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee held a hearing focused on expanding access to healthcare services and NACDS submitted a support letter.

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

The Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) implemented a new STAR+PLUS contract in seven managed care organizations (MCOs) on September 1, 2024. Pharmacy claims billing codes and contact information for these MCOs are available.

Also in Texas, HHSC’s Vendor Drug Program (VDP) revised the Pharmacy Payer Specification Manual, separating them by program. The three separate manuals are the Traditional Medicaid and the Healthy Texas Women Program, the Children with Special Health Care Needs Services Program and the Kidney Health Care Program. The three new manuals are available on the VDP Provider Portal.

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

Speaker of the House of Representatives Dade Phelan (R) appointed Mike Toomey as his new chief of staff, replacing Enrique Marquez. Toomey is a former Texas House member, previously served as chief of staff to former Governors Bill Clements and Rick Perry and was most recently a partner at the Texas Lobby Group.

Also in Texas, PCMA presented at the Texas Pharmaceutical Initiative (TPI) Board’s August 20 meeting, claiming that 90% of the prescription dollar goes to pharmacies and pharmaceutical manufacturers, and that PCMA’s industry creates $155 billion in value each year. The TPI Board also received an update from McKinsey consultants on developing a business plan due to the legislature on October 1, 2024. The TPI was established last session by the Texas Legislature and aims to provide cost-effective access to prescription drugs and other medical supplies to individuals receiving health benefits paid for by the state through the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS), Teacher Retirement System (TRS), Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) including Medicaid, The University of Texas System and Texas A&M University System. The next meeting is September 5.

Also in Texas, the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) Vendor Drug Program’s VDP Provider Portal allows pharmacies to retrieve weekly payment files, prescribers to submit prior authorizations, and more. VDP encourages pharmacies and prescribers to register for these valuable tools.

Also in Texas, the state’s economic forecast looks bright as Comptroller Glenn Hegar (R) estimates an $18 billion+ surplus, and about $24 billion in the Economic Stabilization (Rainy Day) Fund.

Finally in Texas, pharmacies can request expedited formulary coverage, an expedited preferred drug list change or notify HHSC about potential drug shortages impacting prescribing choice and pharmacy claim processing by using the Drug Shortage Notification and Expedited Formulary or Preferred Drug List Request (HHS Form 1315). Referrals should recommend an alternative with supply chain in mind so extra demand will not cause another shortage.

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

NACDS Mary Staples, Walgreens pharmacist Aimme Lusson, and Kroger pharmacist Jeff Loesch, met with State Sen. Bryan Hughes (R) and State Rep. Candy Noble (R), two champions for PBM reform legislation, at the Texas Pharmacy Association’s annual meeting in Allen, Texas.

Also in Texas, the Health and Human Services Commission’s (HHSC) Vendor Drug Program (VDP) delayed the semi-annual Medicaid preferred drug list update until August 8, 2024.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.