TEXAS STATE BOARD OF PHARMACY Report of Task Force to the Texas Pharmacy Congress

TEXAS STATE BOARD OF PHARMACY



REPORT TO THE TEXAS PHARMACY CONGRESS

May 2, 2014

I. CURRENT ISSUES.

A. House Public Health Committee – The Board was asked to provide testimony at two hearings of the House Public Health Committee as follows.



1. April 7, 2014 – Testimony provided on:

 Charge #1. Assess the prevalence of nonmedical prescription drug use in the state (including opioid analgesics, stimulants, tranquilizers, and sedatives). Identify adverse health impacts. Recommend strategies to curb emerging substance abuse trends among children, pregnant women, and adults, as well as to reduce health care costs and mortality.

2. April 14, 2014 – Testimony provided on:

 Charge #2. Study and make recommendations for improvements to the licensing, regulation, and monitoring of compounding pharmacies, including a review of the joint cooperative efforts between the Texas State Board of Pharmacy, Department of State Health Services, and U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Consider the impact of the passage of SB 1100 (83R), additional appropriations made by the 83rd Legislature to strengthen inspections, and any relevant federal legislation.

 Charge #4. Examine the current practice for dispensation of biologic and follow-on biologic (biosimilar) pharmaceutical products in our state. Review any practices for interchangeability of drugs that might pertain to these particular medicines. Review and make recommendations regarding the substitution of biosimilar and biologic medicines.

B. Task Force on Pharmacy Technicians –



1. The Task Force is charged with:

 reviewing the current laws and rules relating to pharmacy technicians in Texas;

 reviewing literature and studies regarding the changing roles and duties of pharmacists and how these changes may impact the role of pharmacy technicians; and

 making recommendations to the Board for any changes to the current pharmacy technician laws and rules to allow pharmacy technicians to assist pharmacists in providing safe and quality pharmaceutical care to the citizens of Texas.

2. The Task Force met twice on January 14, 2014 and March 19, 2014. The Task Force Report will be presented to the Board at their May 6, 2014 meeting. A copy of the Task Force report is included at the end of this report as Attachment A.

C. May 6, 2014, Board Meeting (Copy of the agenda is included as Attachment B.
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