NACDS, the Texas Federation of Drug Stores, and the Texas Pharmacy are all continuing to work with the Board of Pharmacy to urge Gov. Greg Abbott to allow all licensed pharmacies with CLIA-waivers to order and administer all FDA-authorized CLIA-waived tests that can detect COVID or the presence of antigens or antibodies produced in response to the virus. 

Also in Texas... On May 15th, the Board of Pharmacy issued the following guidance to pharmacists when dispensing prescriptions for Chloroquine, Hydroxychloroquine, Mefloquine, or Azithromycin in compliance with Emergency Board Rule 291.30. 

The rule does not prevent a physician from prescribing one of these drugs for an off-label use. Please note, the intended use for the drug is not required if the practitioner determines the furnishing of this information is not in the best interest of the patient in accordance with Board rule 291.34 (b)(7).  

o   The intent of Rule 291.30 is to prevent the stockpiling of the drugs and to ensure that reasonable quantities are available for ALL patients that require therapy with the drugs, including patients with a COVID-19 diagnosis. 

o   It was not the Board's intent to hinder the use of the drugs on patients that are in need of drug therapy, but rather to prevent unreasonable quantities that would otherwise be representative of hoarding or stockpiling tactics. 

o   In addition, the Rule does not apply to a prescription issued for a patient already established on the medication (e.g., prescription to treat rheumatoid arthritis or lupus for already established patients).

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

In an effort to stay connected with Texas state legislators during the interim, NACDS, the Texas Federation of Drug Stores and our chain pharmacists from HEB, Kroger, Walgreens and United have been engaged in Zoom meetings. Over the past couple of weeks, we have met with nine lawmakers — West Texas State Senators Charles Perry & Kel Seliger, Ft. Worth State Senator Beverly Powell, San Antonio State Representative Phillip Cortez, Houston State Representative Garnet Coleman, El Paso State Representative Lina Ortega, Arlington State Representative Chris Turner, Dallas State Senator Nathan Johnson and Wichita Falls State Representative James Franks. During these meetings, we covered a wide range of issues beyond the great work pharmacist and pharmacies are doing during the pandemic throughout Texas to ensure access to medications, promoting our scope regulatory and legislative agenda, — expanding technician duties and eliminating arbitrary ratios, and enhancing access to immunizations without a prescription. We also urged them to tell Gov. Greg Abbott to allow pharmacists to test now for COVID and treat later when the vaccines become available. 

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

Prior to the May 5th quarterly Zoom Board meeting, the Executive Director Allison Benz announced that the discussion on expanding technician duties and eliminating the arbitrary ratio would be postponed until the August 4th in-person Board meeting.  

Also in Texas... The Health and Human Services Commission's Vendor Drug Program (Medicaid) finally submitted their 1115 Waiver on April 22nd, that would allow reimbursement to pharmacies for administering flu vaccines, long acting antipsychotics, and drugs used to treat substance use disorder or opioid dependency. 

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

The Texas Federation of Drug Stores submitted several requests to Gov. Greg Abbott (R) requesting additional waivers, including one for pharmacists testing requesting either a waiver or statewide order from the Department of State Health Services, and one on telepharmacy. 

Also in Texas... Gov. Greg Abbott (R) appointed Chairman and CEO of Brookshire Grocery Company Brad Brookshire to his  Strike Force to Open Texas to develop plans on how to best reopen the state. 

Also in Texas... Gov. Greg Abbott (R) announced that he was mobilizing the Texas National Guard for COVID-19 mobile testing teams. Forty-five teams will be mobilized across the state to provide greater access to medical testing. The teams will have eleven medical professionals and support staff, as well as thirty-four soldiers. Currently, the Texas National Guard has the capacity to test 150 people per day at each mobile testing location. 

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

On April 12th, a day before the emergency orders would have expired, Gov. Greg Abbott indefinitely extended the disaster declaration for all Texas counties in response to COVID-19.

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

NACDS has been sharing our model language for COVID19 waiver requests with our in-state partners to promote with the state agencies. The Texas Federation of Drug Stores (TFDS) utilized these documents and submitted numerous waiver requests and authorizations from regulations to Gov. Greg Abbott (R), the Board of Pharmacy and the Department of Insurance.   

Also in Texas... The Board of Pharmacy held an emergency board meeting on March 20th to adopt rules placing limits on dispensing of chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, mefloquine, or azithromycin.  Link to a list of all temporary suspension of rules and recently adopted emergency rules is found here – https://www.pharmacy.texas.gov/coronavirus/ 

Also in Texas... Gov. Greg Abbott (R) ordered the creation of a temporary Supply Chain Strike Force tasked with guiding collaboration between the public and private sectors to ensure health care facilities have the supplies and resources they need to respond to COVID-19. In addition to working with the federal government and businesses to secure necessary personal protective equipment, the team will work to ensure day-to-day resources, including food, are available for Texas' medical personnel, first responders and those who have contracted COVID-19. https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-announces-increased-ppe-supply-issues-executive-order-to-strengthen-reporting-capabilities 

Also in Texas... Gov. Greg Abbott (R) named Phil Wilson Acting Executive Commissioner of Texas Health and Human Services.

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

Citing coronavirus concerns, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick instructed Senate Chairs of Interim Study Committees on prescription drug costs to postpone hearings for a few weeks as Texas continues on-going efforts to contain and mitigate the impact of COVID-19.

Also in Texas… NACDS and our in-state partner, the Texas Federation of Drug Stores, accompanied chain pharmacists Ken Breda with Brookshire Brothers and Michelle Beall with Brookshire Grocery in district meetings with East Texas legislators to discuss our priority regulatory and legislative issues. Connecting pharmacists with their hometown legislator is essential to advancing our pharmacy healthcare agenda.

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

NACDS and the Texas Federation of Drug Stores led the new Board of Pharmacy public member Rick Tisch on a behind the counter tour of the H-E-B pharmacy in Tomball. Pharmacy manager Craig Gracey and compliance manager Jason Davis did an excellent job demonstrating workflow and pharmacy processes. They also discussed the additional services pharmacists provide and ways that the profession can positively impact patient outcomes. Tisch left the pharmacy with a better understanding of the value of our pharmacy technicians and how increasing the ratio and expanding administrative duties will have a positive impact patient care.

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

The Health and Human Services Commission’s Medicaid Standing Order covers mosquito repellents for the prevention of the Zika virus for four programs: Medicaid (both traditional and managed care), Children’s Health Insurance Program, Children with Special Health Care Needs Services Program and Healthy Texas Women Program. This order serves as a prescription and allows pharmacists to dispense mosquito repellent under the terms of the order.  Beginning February 18th, people enrolled in the Healthy Texas Women Program will now require a prescription to receive mosquito repellents.

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