TPA Urges TSBP to Revise Proposed Medication Delivery Rules

The Texas State Board of Pharmacy (TSBP) held its quarterly meeting November 7 in Austin. Texas Pharmacy Association CEO Debbie Garza provided oral comments about a proposed rule concerning the delivery of prescription drugs. The rule was revised following the August TSBP meeting in response to concerns raised by TPA and others, such as distinctions between delivery by employees/couriers and delivery by mail.

Garza relayed many TPA members’ concerns about the new proposed rule, including definitions, packaging and temperature requirements, signature requirements, delivery notifications, and potentially onerous record-keeping requirements. After much discussion, the Board made numerous revisions that addressed many of TPA’s comments and sent the proposed rule back to TSBP staff who will provide updated proposed rules at the February quarterly meeting.

TSBP adopted several final rules, including those clarifying that if a pharmacy temporarily closes for the loss of a pharmacist-in-charge, the pharmacy must notify the Board in writing not later than the next business day after the date of departure of the pharmacist-in-charge, and clarifying that a pharmacy may temporarily close for lack of a pharmacist-in-charge for no more than 30 days. New license renewal fees of $580 for a pharmacy and $378 for pharmacists were approved. Pharmacy technician renewal fees will stay the same at $81. Additionally, fees were added for remote pharmacy services. Rules specifying prepackaging and labeling requirements for a participating provider to dispense donated prescription drugs in accordance with House Bill 4332 were also finalized. View the complete agenda with rules for final adoption and those proposed here. Note: to see details, click on highlighted items within the agenda.

Among other activities, Board President Julie Spier welcomed Executive Director Danny Carroll to his first meeting since starting the role this fall. The Board heard a report from Amazon Pharmacy on a pilot project concerning residential delivery of prescription drugs by drone. Additionally, the Board received a report on the Compounding Rules Advisory Group and asked Board staff to put the group’s recommendations into proposed rules to be discussed at the next meeting.