Texas

The state legislature will convene its 140-day biennial session on January 10, 2023. Rep. Dade Phelan (R) was elected Speaker of the House. 

Also in Texas, the State Comptroller Glenn Hegar (R) announced on January 9 that the state has a $32.7 billion surplus.  

Also in Texas, the Health and Human Services Commission’s (HHSC) Executive Commissioner Cecile Erwin Young announced that Dr. Jennifer Shuford would serve as Commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), replacing Dr. John Hellerstedt. Previously Shuford served as chief state epidemiologist at DSHS. 

Finally in Texas, several bills of interest to pharmacies have been filed: 

• HB 1105 by Rep. Four Price (R) would make permanent the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act) authority that authorizes pharmacists to both order and administer routine immunizations for individuals three years of age and older.  
• HB 1293 by Rep. Toni Rose (D), the Medicaid transparency reimbursement bill, would establish a rate floor for Medicaid MCOs. 
• SB 160 by Sen. Charles Perry (R) would provide for pharmacists to furnish medications for flu, strep and COVID under a written protocol with additional training, if identified through a CLIA Waived test. Also, it would allow for a physician to dispense drugs for flu, step and COVID, if identified through a CLIA-waived test, and dispense all antibiotics and drugs authorized under an emergency rule. 

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