NACDS, the Texas Federation of Drug Stores (TFDS), the Texas Pharmacy Association (TPA) and the Texas Health-Systems Pharmacists (TSHP) collaborated on November 2 for an all-day successful Pharmacy Advocacy Training Day at the Texas State Capitol. Pharmacists from around the state were briefed on the pharmacy priority issues for the 2023 legislative session, heard from legislators, regulators, on “how to advocate” effectively, and then practiced what they learned by role playing. Media pundits shared their stories on Texas politics, the November 8 elections, and the outlook for the 2023 session. Chain, independent and hospital pharmacists teamed up and spent the afternoon fanning out across the Capitol in teams putting their knowledge into practice with over 50 scheduled meetings with legislators and staff. 

Also in Texas, the Health, and Human Service Commission (HHSC) is hosting a provider online seminar at Noon on November 8 on COVID-19 updates. COVID-19 vaccine providers may also benefit from the information relating to COVID-19 vaccine updates, clinical guidance, and product ordering. Please register to receive information to participate in this event.  

Finally in Texas, the Board of Pharmacy adopted non-sterile compounding rules at its August meeting. Board rule 291.131 changes including new definitions of cleaning and sanitizing and calibrations of scales.  

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

The Board of Pharmacy’s posted the agenda for the November 1 meeting.

Also in Texas, save the date for the next PMP Advisory Committee remote Zoom meeting on December 1. Information will be posted on the Board of Pharmacy’s Committee & Task Force Meetings webpage as it becomes available.

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

The Drug Utilization Review Board posted the agenda for October 21 meeting. Refer to the Texas Drug Utilization Review Board Handbook for the instructions about submitting written materials to the board before the meeting and public testifying on the day of the meeting.

Also in Texas, the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) updated the July 2022 Medicaid Preferred Drug List on September 28 and provided the following updates:

• September 2022 Specialty Drug List Available
• Temporary Change in PDL Status for Clonidine Transdermal Patches Effective Sept. 26
• Clinical Prior Authorization Criteria Revisions Implement for Medicaid Fee-for-Service On Oct. 26

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

The Board of Pharmacy has moved to the George H. W. Bush State Office Building. Their new mailing address is Texas State Board of Pharmacy, 1801 Congress Avenue, Suite 13.100, Austin, TX 78701. All telephone numbers, emails and faxes remain the same. 

In advance of the October 3 Texas House Select Committee on Health Care Reform, NACDS submitted a statement recommending allowing pharmacists to permanently order and administer CDC/ACIP -recommended vaccines for ages 3 and older; permitting certified pharmacy technicians to also administer vaccinations to the same age group; and initiate corresponding treatment pursuant to the result of CLIA-waived tests. 

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

The Select Committee on Health Care Reform is meeting on October 3rd to examine the potential impact of delayed care on the state’s health care delivery system, health care costs, and patient health outcomes. They will also study delays during the pandemic in obtaining preventive and primary health services, such as well-childcare, prenatal care, screenings for cancer and chronic disease, behavioral health, urgent care, chronic illness, and immunizations.

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

The Health and Human Services Commission’s (HHSC) Executive Commissioner Cecile Erwin Young announced that Dr. Jennifer Shuford will serve as interim commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), effective October 2022, replacing Dr. John Hellerstedt who is retiring from state service. Shuford currently serves as chief state epidemiologist at DSHS. She is also a member of the Texas Medical Association, where she serves as a consultant to TMA’s Committee on Infectious Diseases. 

Also in Texas, the September draft specialty drug list has been posted. Comments are due by September 22, 2022. 

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

The Board of Pharmacy adopted the pharmacy counseling waiver and non-sterile compound rules at the August 2nd meeting. A summary of all the rules adopted is available here. 

Also in Texas, the Board of Pharmacy created an infographic clarifying for pharmacists the requirement to check a patient’s controlled substance history in the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) before dispensing opioids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, or carisoprodol. The Board inspectors have found that some integrated pharmacy management systems require that the pharmacist manually initiate a report request by clicking to “View/Show Report” and access the full controlled substance history report for the patient to comply with the mandated PMP lookup requirement. However, if your integrated pharmacy management system loads both the patient score and the full patient report, the pharmacist does not need to load the report separately to be compliant with the mandate. 

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

The Board of Pharmacy posted new guidelines clarifying the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) mandatory lookup requirements in integrated health records for pharmacists checking a patient’s controlled substance history before dispensing opioids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates or carisoprodol.

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

The Board of Pharmacy quarterly meeting is Tuesday, August 2. Included on the agenda for possible ultimate action on the adopting of the pharmacy counseling waiver and non-sterile compound rules.

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