Increased Regulation of Schedule III Through V Prescription
Drugs
Senate Bill 1879 by Sen. Tommy Williams (R-The Woodlands) and Rep.
Mike Hamilton (R-Mauriceville) calls for increased regulation and
documentation of Schedule III through V prescription drugs.
Schedule II prescription drugs currently are regulated. The bill
required pharmacists to report information regarding the
prescription and release of these medications to the Department of
Public Safety (DPS). Pharmacists also must comply with increased
requirements that a patient must fulfill to refill Schedule III to
V prescriptions. Though TMA recognizes that the bill is an effort
to combat the proliferation of people who use these controlled
substances in an illegal manner, we are concerned that the
increased oversight will result in fewer prescriptions being given
to patients who truly need them. Physicians may not want to deal
with the additional burden associated with prescribing Schedule III
to V drugs. SB 1879 is effective immediately.
SB 1879 also establishes several advisory committees:
- Pain Treatment Review Committee to study and make
recommendations regarding how to improve pain management for
patients. The committee must include four physicians as voting
members. Of the four physicians, one must represent TMA and one
must be a psychiatrist specializing in addictive diseases. Other
committee members include representatives from the Texas Hospital
Association, Texas Nurses Association, American Cancer
Society-Texas Division, attorney general, a probate court judge,
and one public member. The committee must meet at least once
every three months and recommend any needed statutory changes by
Sept. 1, 2008.
- SB 1879 Implementation Committee to advise the Department of
Public Safety on improving the official prescription program,
including the implementation of an electronic system to monitor
controlled substances listed in Schedule II through V and the new
data reporting requirements. The committee must include three
physicians and three pharmacists, appointed respectively by the
governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker, along with member of
the Texas Medical Board, Texas State Board of Pharmacy, Texas
State Board of Dental Examiners, and Texas Board of Nurse
Examiners. The committee must submit recommendations by July 1,
2008.
HB 1, the appropriations act, allocated around $804,000 over the
biennium to DPS to implement SB 1879.
Prescription Drug Public Education Campaign
House Bill 1676 by Rep. Diane Delisi (R-Temple) and Sen. Leticia
Van de Putte (D-San Antonio) requires the Consumer Protection
Division within the Office of the Attorney General (AG) to develop
a public awareness campaign about the sale of prescription drugs.
The campaign would educate consumers about solicitations made - via
e-mail or the Internet - for the sale of prescription drugs. The
campaign must: (1) emphasize that there are reputable pharmacies
and pharmacists available through the Internet, and (2) help
consumers distinguish between reputable and disreputable Web-based
pharmacy services. The AG's office must consult with the Texas
State Board of Pharmacy, trade groups, and advocates for consumer
protection in conducting the campaign. The AG's office may
distribute information to consumers via brochures, ads, editorials,
radio, TV, Internet, or other appropriate means.
Prescription Drug TMA Staff Team:
Legislative: Darren Whitehurst
Policy: Nancy Bieri and Helen Kent Davis
Legal:
C.J. Francisco
Overview
|
Managed Care/Insurance Reform
|
Scope of Practice
|
Retail Health Clinics
|
Responsible Ownership
|
Corporate Practice of Medicine
|
Health Care Funding
|
Medicaid, CHIP, and the
Uninsured
|
Public Health
|
Border Health
|
Mental Health
|
Emergency Medical Services and
Trauma Care
|
Rural Health
|
Medical Science and Quality
|
Physician Workforce, Licensure,
and Discipline
|
Health Information Technology
|
Long-Term Care
|
Workers' Compensation
|
Abortion
|
Franchise Tax Reform
Last Updated On
July 23, 2010
Originally Published On
March 23, 2010