NACDS provided comments encouraging the Board of Pharmacy (TSBP) to include in their FY 2023-2027 strategic plan statute and rule changes to permanently codify the scope of practice expansion authorized under the PREP Act for all pharmacy personnel, and to further modernize scope of practice for Texas pharmacists to allow for practices now authorized in other states. We also urged the Board to modernize their in-person counseling rules to permanently allow the option of telephonic counseling that has allowed pharmacies to deploy innovative workflow models to meet increased patient demand for pharmacy services.

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

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has updated the Texas COVID-19 Vaccine Program Provider Manual (Click her for manual) 

Also in Texas, the Legislature returned to the Capitol on September 20th for a third 30-day special session to tackle several issues including redistricting, property tax reform, and allocating the $16B in federal COVID relief funds. (Link to special session) 

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

Having achieved passing the election integrity law, the second special legislative session adjourned on September 2. Gov. Abbott (R) announced a third special session on redistricting will convene on September 20, 2021.

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

Gov. Greg Abbott (R) agreed to extend the telephonic counseling waiver https://www.pharmacy.texas.gov/files_pdf/291.33-notification.pdf 291.33(c)(1)(B)(iii) until November 30, 2021. All other temporarily suspended rule requirements listed here TSBP | Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Resources – Temporary Rule Suspensions (texas.gov) will no longer be suspended beginning on September 1, 2021. 

Also in Texas, on August 25th, Gov. Greg Abbott (R) issued an Executive Order banning government COVID-19 vaccine mandates in Texas.

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

At the August 3rd Board of Pharmacy, after a lengthy debate, the Board agreed to accept the proposed draft language of concern to chain pharmacies emergency refills of insulin and insulin supplies and new requirements on compounding non-sterile products including flavoring and simple mixture of creams and lotions. The Board will consider adopting final rules at their November 2nd meeting. 

Also in Texas, pharmacies continue lobbying efforts to secure funding for the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 to prevent any PMP usage interruptions. https://www.nacds.org/ceo/2021/0813/PMP-ARPA-Funding-Letter-8.11.2021.pdf 

Also in Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott (R) announced that the temporary suspension of numerous COVID-19 rules listed on this link will terminate on September 1, 2021. The list includes discontinuing the telephonic counseling waiver in §291.33(c)(1)(B)(iii). https://www.pharmacy.texas.gov/coronavirus/temporary-rule-suspensions.asp 

Finally in Texas, the Governor convened a second 30-day special session on August 7th, but the partisan stalemate continues. On August 10th, House Speaker Dade Phelan (R) signed civil arrest warrants for 52 House Democrats still missing from the state Capitol to regain a quorum needed so that the House of Representatives can begin moving legislation during the second special

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

The 30-day special session Gov. Greg Abbott (R) convened in early July will end on Friday, August 6th without progress on any legislation because of the partisan standoff in the House of Representatives over the election integrity bill. The Governor vowed to call multiple special sessions until the elections bill passes.  

Also in Texas, the Health and Human Services Commission’s (HHSC) Vendor Drug Program (VDP) updated the Preferred Drug List. 

Finally in Texas, since the Board of Pharmacy failed to secure funding from the Legislature to cover the cost of the electronic health record (EHR) to continue to be seamlessly integrated into the state’s Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP), access through the Appriss PMP Gateway and access to the NarxCare score will end on August 31, 2021. Free access to the PMP remains available at texas.pmpaware.net/login, but it is more cumbersome then the direct connect integration the state began paying for in 2020 when they mandated that both prescribers and dispensers check the system before prescribing opioids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates or carisoprodol. More information is available – News | PMP Changes (texas.gov) 

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

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHSC) announced its submission of an extension application to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for the Texas Healthcare Transformation Quality Improvement Program (THTQIP) waiver under section 1115 of the Social Security Act. The extension request is for approximately 10 years, and reflects the same terms and conditions agreed to and approved by CMS on Jan. 15, 2021. It will allow Texas to continue flexibility to pursue the goals of the existing 1115 waiver:  

• Expand risk-based managed care to new populations and services. 
• Support the development and maintenance of a coordinated care delivery system. 
• Improve outcomes while containing cost growth. 
• Transition to quality-based payment systems for managed care and providers.  

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

The 30-day special session that Gov. Greg Abbott (R) convened on July 8th came to an abrupt halt on July 12th when the many Democrat legislators fled the state breaking a quorum to block a vote on the election integrity bill. Under House rules, all business was suspended because the absent Democrats meant that there were not members present to conduct business.

Also in Texas, the Texas Federation of Drug Stores (TFDS), the Texas Medical Association (TMA), the Texas Pharmacy Association (TPA) sent a joint letter https://www.nacds.org/ceo/2021/0716/PMP-Funding-Letter-vF07.9.21.pdf requesting the legislature appropriate $5.4 million for 2022-23 biennium to fund the Texas State Board of Pharmacy’s Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP).  It is critical that these funds be appropriated before September 1, 2021, to prevent any PMP usage interruptions. Without funding, these critical tools to help slow and prevent the opioid abuse crisis may cease.

Finally in Texas, the state Comptroller Glenn Hegar’s (R) latest revenue estimate released last week in advance of the special session shows the current two-year budget cycle with a general revenue balance of $5 billion for the fiscal cycle that ends on August 31, 2021. 

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

Gov. Greg Abbott (R) convened a 30-day special session of the Legislature on July 8 to address unfinished business, including election integrity, bail reform and several other issues.  

Also in Texas, in advance of the August 3 quarterly board meeting, the Board of Pharmacy is seeking comments by July 27 on several proposed rules: 

• Proposed rule updating the internship hours requirement to reflect the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education requirement.  
• Proposed rule increasing the pharmacist initial license fee from $332 to $360 and the biennial renewal fee from $329 to $357.  
• Proposed rule increasing the pharmacy technician initial registration fee from $83 to $84 and the biennial renewal fee from $80 to $81.
• Proposed rule increasing the pharmacy initial license fee from $507 to $538 and the biennial renewal fee from $504 to $535.
• Proposed rule allowing Class A or Class C pharmacies to provide remote pharmacy services using an automated disposing and delivery system.  

Also in Texas, the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is encouraging vaccine providers to participate in weekly webinars on Tuesdays from Noon-1:30 PM Central time. Preregister for the upcoming July 13 webinar here. Highlights from past webinars are available online COVID-19 Vaccine Providers Webinars page. 

Finally in Texas, the Health and Human Services Commission’s (HHSC) Vendor Drug Program (VDP) maintains a Specialty Drug List (SDL) for Medicaid Managed Care (MCO). Currently, HHSC reviews and adjusts the drug list quarterly. VDP is proposing changing the SDL publication schedule from quarterly to twice a year, giving MCOs more time to finalize contracts with pharmacies in their specialty networks. VDP is soliciting comments on this draft policy change by July 19 at 5:00 p.m. to the VDP Operations.

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