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 Proposed rule amending regulations under 22 TAC 283 to remove an outdated reference to pharmacist intern-trainees.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 Proposed rule amending regulations under 22 TAC 283 to remove an outdated reference to a change of name fee.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.