Physicians are questioning whether some Texas pharmacists are overstepping bounds by using a new rule to second-guess whether a doctor’s prescription is appropriate, according to the Texas Medical Association (TMA).
Texas State Board of Pharmacy (TSBP) rules implemented earlier this year give pharmacists a list of 19 “red flag” factors intended to weed out illicit prescribing and stop inappropriate dispensing of medications. TMA suggests that the new rules may go too far, straining the physician-pharmacist relationship because in some cases the rules have caused delays in patient care, limits on prescriptions, and requests for more medical information before pharmacists fill prescriptions.
Recently, Texas Pharmacy Association CEO Debbie Garza spoke with a TMA reporter about concerns among Texas physicians. The interview was an opportunity to educate physicians about pharmacists' legal obligations. Opioid issues are extremely complex and require collaboration among all stakeholders, but one of the least understood aspects of this collaboration is the “corresponding responsibility” that federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) regulations place on pharmacists to assess whether prescriptions for controlled substances are written for a legitimate medical purpose. Clarity on this issue can help keep all professionals aligned in the important work and shared objective of preventing drug abuse while assuring accessible and quality patient care.
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Physicians are questioning whether some Texas pharmacists are overstepping bounds by using a new rule to second-guess whether a doctor’s prescription is appropriate, 
