Texas

Gov. Greg Abbott (R) reappointed Cecile Young as the Executive Commissioner for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) for a term set to expire on February 1, 2023.

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

2021-02-12T09:08:03-05:00February 12, 2021|Texas|

Texas

Gov. Greg Abbott (R) will deliver his State-of-the-State address on February 1, 2021, to provide an update on the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic and lay out his priorities for the 87th Legislature.

Also in Texas. the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Advisory Committee held its quarterly meeting on January 19. The vendor Appriss shared information on the product enhancements to NarxCare program. The current statute requires all Texas licensed pharmacies are required to report all dispensed controlled substances C-II-V records to the PMP no later than the next business day after the prescription is filled.

Also in Texas. The Board of Pharmacy is scheduled to host a videoconference meeting on February 2, 2021. More information can be found at the following website: https://ldh.la.gov/covidvaccine/

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

2021-01-29T10:28:34-05:00January 29, 2021|Texas|

Texas

The Legislature convened on Tuesday, January 12, and immediately elected a new Speaker of the House, Republican Dade Phelan from Beaumont.

Also in Texas. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) instructed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CMS) to ship first doses of COVID-19 vaccine to 28 hub providers for large community vaccinations of health care workers, people 65 and older, and anyone 16 and older with medical conditions that put them at greater risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19.

Also in Texas. The Medical Board adopted a final rule establishing the process and circumstances under which physicians may obtain a waiver to be exempt from requirements for electronic prescribing of controlled substances.

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

2021-01-15T10:26:44-05:00January 15, 2021|Texas|

Texas

At their November meeting, the Board of Pharmacy increased the pharmacy-to-pharmacy technician ratio for Class A retail pharmacies from 1:4 to 1:6, effective December 10, 2020. More information can be found here.

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

2020-12-18T08:06:19-05:00December 18, 2020|Texas|

Texas

On November 3, NACDS’ pharmacists from Albertsons, CVS, HEB, Kroger, and Walgreens, as well as the Texas Federation of Drug Stores president, all testified in support of the proposed rules to expand technician ratios. The Board of Pharmacy adopted final rules increasing the pharmacist-to-technician ratio from 1:4 to 1:6 in Class A community retail pharmacies, and totaling eliminating the 1:8 ratio in Class G central processing pharmacies. The Board also voted to expand pharmacy technician duties for Class A and Class G pharmacies, including accepting oral prescriptions, transferring prescriptions, and contacting the prescriber to clarify information on an existing prescription order. The new rules will become effective 21 days after they are submitted to the Texas Register, which could occur by mid-December 2020.

Also in Texas. The Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Immunization Program is requiring pharmacies register to be eligible to administer COVID-19 vaccines in Texas once they are available. Also, pharmacies must register with ImmTrac2, Texas’ Immunization Information System (IIS), and also register on VaccineFinder.org

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

2020-11-06T12:25:01-05:00November 6, 2020|Texas|

Texas

State Senator Dr. Dawn Buckingham (R) toured an HEB pharmacy in her district this week where she observed first-hand why the pharmacy technician ratio needs to be increased and witnessed how pharmacies are stepping up to fill gaps in health care by administering more immunizations. Dr. Buckingham expressed appreciation for NACDS’ support for her reelection campaign.

Also in Texas. The Health and Human Services Commission Department of State Health Care Services (DSHS) issued detailed guidance on how to become a COVD-19 Vaccinator in Texas. Pharmacists can register by visiting the following website. https://enrolltexasiz.dshs.texas.gov/eregister1.asp

Lastly in Texas.  On Tuesday, November 3, 2020, at 9 am CST, the Board of Pharmacy will meet virtually to discuss the final adoption of proposed rules expanding pharmacy technician duties and increasing ratios. Please visit the links below for the agenda, live stream, and for information on how to provide oral comments during the meeting for which pre-registration must be completed by 5 pm CST October 31, 2020.

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

2023-10-10T09:03:32-04:00October 23, 2020|Texas|

Texas

The Prescription Monitoring Program Advisory Committee will hold its virtual quarterly meeting at 9 AM on October 20, 2020.  The meeting agenda can be found here. More information about the PMP is available here.

Also in Texas. The Board of Pharmacy requested comments be submitted by October 31, 2020, on sixteen proposed rules, including the expansion of pharmacy technician duties and expanding ratios. NACDS strongly urges members to submit letters of support and participate in the November 3, 2020 Board of Pharmacy zoom meeting. Links to the proposed rules and brief summaries are below.

  1. Proposed rule amending regulations under 22 TAC 283 to clarify course work requirements for reciprocity applicants retaking the state pharmacy jurisprudence exam.
  2. Proposed rule amending regulations under 22 TAC 283 to remove an outdated reference to pharmacist intern-trainees.
  3. Proposed rule amending regulations under 22 TAC 283 to remove the ratio of pharmacists to pharmacist-interns.
  4. Proposed rule amending regulations under 22 TAC 283 to remove an outdated reference to a change of name fee.
  5. Proposed rule amending regulations under 22 TAC 291 to expand the nonjudgmental duties that may be performed by pharmacy technicians to include receiving and transferring prescriptions for dangerous drugs. The rule also would remove the ratio of on-site pharmacists to pharmacy technicians.
  6. Proposed rule amending regulations under 22 TAC 291 to update the definition of “original prescription.”
  7. Proposed rule amending regulations under 22 TAC 291 to expand the nonjudgmental duties that may be performed by pharmacy technicians to include receiving, transferring, or contacting a prescriber regarding prescriptions for dangerous drugs.
  8. Proposed rule amending regulations under 22 TAC 291 to expand the nonjudgmental duties that may be performed by pharmacy technicians to include receiving, transferring, or contacting a prescriber regarding prescriptions for dangerous drugs. The rule also would increase the ratio of pharmacists to pharmacy technicians and pharmacy technician trainees to 1:6.
  9. Proposed rule amending regulations under 22 TAC 291 to expand the nonjudgmental duties that may be performed by pharmacy technicians to include the transfer of prescriptions for dangerous drugs and documentation of consultation.
  10. Proposed rule amending regulations under 22 TAC 291 to require non-pharmacist individual owners or managing officers of a Class A pharmacy license applicant to attend a pharmacy ownership training course.
  11. Proposed rule amending regulations under 22 TAC 291 to require non-pharmacist individual owners or managing officers of Class A pharmacies to take ownership training within 90 days of notifying the board of a change of managing officer. The rule also would revise the change of ownership notification requirements.
  12. Proposed rule amending regulations under 22 TAC 291 to expand the nonjudgmental duties that may be performed by pharmacy technicians to include receipt of oral prescription drug orders for dangerous drugs.
  13. Proposed rule amending regulations under 22 TAC 291 to expand the nonjudgmental duties that may be performed by pharmacy technicians to include receiving and transferring prescriptions for dangerous drugs. The rule also would remove the ratio of pharmacists to pharmacy technicians and pharmacy technician trainees.
  14. Proposed rule of the State Board of Pharmacy would amend regulations under 22 TAC 315 to clarify when a controlled substance prescription is not required to be issued electronically. The rule also would add procedures for requesting a waiver of the electronic prescribing requirement.
  15. Proposed rule amending regulations under 22 TAC 309 to update the definition of “original prescription.”
  16. Proposed rule amending regulations under 22 TAC 309 to update provisions on oral prescriptions to allow for expanded pharmacy technician duties.

Lastly in Texas. The Department of State Health Services’ (DSHS) Immunization Program is urging pharmacies and other health care providers interested in administering the COVID-19 vaccines once they are available to enroll as vaccine providers at EnrollTexasIZ.dshs.texas.gov. For more information on the DSHS Immunization Program, visit EnrollTexasIZ.dshs.texas.gov.

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

2020-10-16T09:11:39-04:00October 16, 2020|Texas|

Texas

NACDS and the Texas Federation of Drug Stores submitted three joint letters to the House Select Committee on Statewide Health Care Costs providing extensive comments on all three issues: (1) primary drivers of increased health care costs in Texas, (2) opportunities to better coordinate how public dollars are spent on health care, and (3) identify emerging and proven delivery system improvements and sustainable financing models that could reduce the cost of health care.

Also in Texas. The Board of Pharmacy, partnering with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Diversion Control Division, is hosting a virtual opioid symposium on both October 11 and 12, 2020. For information about speakers, program details, and registration information, visit here. The symposium offers three (3) hours (0.3 CEUs) of CE approved by the Texas State Board of Pharmacy for license renewal. This program may be counted toward the requirement of prescribing and monitoring controlled substances as outlined by Board rule 295.8 for pharmacists and toward Texas-specific pharmacy laws or rules for pharmacy technicians per Board rule 297.8

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

2020-10-09T08:06:58-04:00October 9, 2020|Texas|

Texas

The Board of Pharmacy has posted a final rule that took effect on September 9, which to adopted provisions to add a $500 administrative penalty for failure to access the Prescription Monitoring Program for a patient’s information before dispensing opioids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, or carisoprodol.

Also in Texas. The Health and Human Services Commission’s (HHSC) Vendor Drug Program’s (VDP) Drug Utilization Review (DUR) Board will be soliciting public comments at their October meeting on the new drug classes anticonvulsants, antihemophilic, antineoplastic (i.e., anti-cancer), antiretroviral (i.e., anti-HIV), and medications used to treat multiple sclerosis. These drug classes are not currently reviewed on the Texas Medicaid Preferred Drug List (PDL). All medications within these newly reviewed drug classes will be preferred and continue to be available without PDL prior authorization. More information can be found here.

Also in Texas. Effective September 21, 2020, the Health and Human Services Commission will require the “Quantity Prescribed” field (460–ET) on all pharmacy claims for Schedule II drugs. Pharmacies should refer to the payer sheet addendum for more information on how this change impacts claim processing.

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

2023-10-10T09:03:45-04:00September 18, 2020|Texas|
Go to Top