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.

The Board of Pharmacy August 2nd meeting agenda includes proposed rules for final adoption on patient counseling, non-sterile compounding, and centralized prescription dispensing. If you are unable to attend the Board meeting, you can watch it on live stream.  

Also in Texas, NACDS sponsored the Texas Pharmacy Association’s annual meeting keynote session with State Senator Charles Perry (R-Lubbock), the Vice-Chair of the powerful Senate Health and Human Services Committee. Last session, Sen. Perry, a vocal advocate for pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform, helped pass two important bills through the Senate that became law in 2021.  

Also in Texas, NACDS and our in-state partner, the Texas Federation of Drug Stores, have arranged for Rep. Four Price (R) to tour a United Supermarket Pharmacy in Amarillo. (Left to Right: United pharmacist Tim Purser, pharmacy technician Danielle Coleman, pharmacist Viet Le Nguyen, NACDS’ TX lobbyist Nicole Kralj, State Rep. Four Price (R-Amarillo) and NACDS Mary Staples) 

Finally in Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott (R) again extended the waiver for the requirement for pharmacists to have in-person contact for patient counseling to allow patient counseling to be performed by telephonic consultation until September 30, 2022, or until the March 13, 2020, disaster declaration is lifted or expires, whichever is earlier.

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

In advance of the House and Senate health committee interim hearings this summer studying the pandemic response, NACDS and our in-state partner, the Texas Federation of Drug Stores (TFDS) provided joint letters to both the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and the House Select Committee on Health Care Reform highlighting how Texas pharmacies, empowered through federal authorizations to expand access to essential care services, were instrumental in providing millions of vaccinations, tests, and access points for antivirals. We urged lawmakers to take action to maintain critical access to care at pharmacies, allowing pharmacies/pharmacists to order and administer vaccinations approved by CDC/ACIP for ages 3 and older; initiate corresponding treatment pursuant to the result of a CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments)– waived test; and permit pharmacy technicians’ to also administer the tests and vaccines. 

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

On May 18th and 19th. the House Insurance Committee held two days of interim hearings on health care laws adopted in 2021 including the pharmacy specific laws passed – SB (Senate Bill) 1264, HB (House Bill) 1919 and HB 1763. 

Also in Texas, the Board of Pharmacy has many resources available on their website to keep pharmacies connected with the Agency, including General Practice Resources and Coronavirus information. 

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

The Drug Utilization Review (DUR) Board recently approved a list of recommended drugs for the Medicaid preferred drug list which will be discussed and finalized at the DUR meeting on July 22, 2022. 

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