The Texas Pharmacy Association and other representatives of the pharmacy community testified Tuesday before the House Select Committee on Opioid and Substance Abuse. The committee’s third hearing focused on the prescription monitoring program and provided an opportunity for provider groups to share insights about the epidemic and possible solutions to address it.
During the hearing, TPA’s Justin Hudman, division director of public affairs, testified before the committee on the importance of assuring that pharmacists have the proper authority to help address the opioid crisis and that payers need to recognize pharmacists as providers. In addition, Hudman testified on the need for the legislature to direct the Department of State Health Services to issue its own statewide standing order for Naloxone, authorizing all licensed pharmacists in the state to furnish Naloxone to any individual who may be at risk of an opioid overdose or any person in a position to help a person at risk.
Hudman’s testimony, as well as remarks from other pharmacy organizations, was well received by the committee. Hudman closed his comments assuring the committee that pharmacy is strongly committed to working with the legislature to address the opioid crisis and substance abuse in our communities.
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