Gov. Greg Abbott (R) appointed Donna Montemayor, R.Ph. with HEB, and Rick Tish, a public member from Spring, to serve a 6-year term on the Board of Pharmacy. The Governor also reappointed Bradley Miller, Ph.T.R. and Donnie Lewis, R.Ph. to serve a second term.

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

The Texas Health and Human Services’ (HHSC) Vendor Drug Program (VDP) held a press conference in which they unveiled their business plan, including a roadmap to work more closely with pharmacies and other providers to improve benefits and services for Medicaid patients. Among other things, VDP announced that, in addition to reimbursing pharmacies for long-acting injectables, flu and vivitrol, Medicaid would soon begin paying pharmacies for the administration of naloxone too. For more information go to – https://hhs.texas.gov/about-hhs/communications-events/news/2019/10/hhs-unveils-blueprint-a-healthy-texas 

Also in Texas… The Texas Interagency Advisory Committee held a meeting to discuss the waiver process for the implementation of HB 2174, the new electronic prescribing of controlled substances law chain pharmacy worked to pass earlier this year that will go into effect in January of 2021.

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

The Prescription Monitoring Program’s Interagency Advisory Committee Group will meet on Tuesday, October 15 to discuss implementing certain requirements in several new laws, including setting standards for waivers from the electronic prescription requirements in HB 2174.

Also in Texas… In response to a request from the State Board of Pharmacy, NACDS submitted comments identifying issues that the Board should address as it works to develop its Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2021 through 2025. Among these issues, NACDS urged the Board to implement policy changes that expand the scope of services that pharmacists can provide to Texans, optimize the use of pharmacy technicians, enable pharmacies to utilize new technologies and implement innovate practices to better serve their patients and to address other burdensome provisions in the existing rules and regulations.

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

In response to a request from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission’s (HHSC) Vendor Drug Program (VDP), NACDS submitted a 10-page letter detailing Medicaid cost-saving suggestions. The VDP was charged with the responsibility of evaluating strategies and submitting a report with findings and recommendations for achieving cost savings to the Senate Finance Committee, House Committee on Appropriations, Legislative Budget Board, Governor and permanent standing committees in the House of Representatives and Senate with jurisdiction over HHSC by Tuesday, September 1, 2020.

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

In advance of the August 6^th Board of Pharmacy meeting, NACDS submitted a letter approved by our members operating in Texas recommending the Board eliminate pharmacy technician ratios and expand duties. After much discussion, the Board decided to move forward on all of our recommendations and directed staff to draft a proposed rule for the November 5^th meeting that would include expanding technician duties to allow techs to (1) accept a verbal order, (2) transfer a prescription, and (3) contact a prescriber to clarify a prescription. The proposed rule would also eliminate the technician to pharmacist’s ratio which is currently set at 1:4. The Board also directed staff to consult with the Medical Board regarding our recommendation to allow pharmacy technicians to administer vaccinations, and bring back to the Board at the November information from the Medical Board about delegating this task to these paraprofessionals, not a proposed rule.

Also in Texas… On July 17, the TSBP upgraded the prescription monitoring program (PMP) to allow all approved users access to an advanced analytics and patient support tool called NarxCare. In addition to the existing PMP functionality, NarxCare will aggregate and analyze prescription information from providers and pharmacies and present visual, interactive information, as well as advanced analytic insights, machine learning risk scores and more.

Also in Texas… The budget bill signed by Gov. Greg Abbott (R) included the funding necessary to integrate the state’s PMP into pharmacy data systems. The TSBP wants prescribers and dispensers to know that with statewide integration, they will no longer have to interrupt their current workflow to access the PMP. An overview of the integration process, along with informational resources, can be found on the TSBP website.

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

Medicaid will publish the semi-annual update of the Medicaid preferred drug list on Thursday, July 25.

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

Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed into law HB 2174, legislation to address opioid abuse and addiction, while providing key safeguards to address the needs of those suffering from chronic pain. By Friday, January 1, 2021, all controlled substances will have to be electronically prescribed. Also, the new law will limit the supply of a patient’s first opioid prescription to 10 days when that prescription is for temporary or acute pain.

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

The Health and Human Services Commission is seeking applicants to serve on the Medicaid Managed Care Advisory Committee. If interested, review the application letter to find out if you qualify. Complete the Application for Membership to apply to be on the committee. For more information about the committee, visit the website or contact Sarah Melecki.

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

The legislature adjourned its biennial session on May 27. Prior to adjournment, the following bills of interest to chain pharmacies were sent to Gov. Greg Abbott (R) to sign into law. The governor has until Sunday, June 16 to decide whether to sign or veto a bill, or let it become law without his signature. Unless otherwise specified, the effective date is Sunday, September 1.

• HB 3284, legislation providing a six-month extension to the September 1, 2019 effective date passed last session that requires both prescribers and dispensers check the PMP for certain controlled substances on or after Sunday, March 1, 2020. The bill also requires veterinarians check the PMP, establishes an advisory committee and compels law enforcement to obtain a subpoena, warrant or other court order to access the PMP.
• HB 3496, legislation NACDS successfully amended excluding non-publicly traded grocery store pharmacies from certain requirements to disclose certain financial information of pharmacy ownership.
• HB 2088, legislation NACDS successfully amended that requires pharmacies, when dispensing Schedule IIs, to provide written notice on how to properly dispose of medications with certain exemptions.
• SB 1056, legislation clarifying that a physician may delegate to a pharmacist the ability to modify the patient’s drug therapy under a physician protocol.

Also in Texas… Other bills of interest to chain pharmacies that have been signed by Gov. Abbott recently include the following:

• HB 3441, legislation ensuring payment parity for pharmacists providing the same service as other providers.
• HB 1757, legislation recognizing pharmacists as providers in the Insurance Code.

Also in Texas… With hurricane season in effect, the Health and Human Services Commission has prepared resources to keep Texans healthy and safe in the event of a natural disaster.

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