Highlights 77th Texas Legislature - Senate

___ HEALTH AND HUMAN
ERVICES/Regulatory
UMAN SERVICES
77 th Texas Legislature
Authorizes an automated pharmacy system to be located only at a health care facility regulated by the
state. The bill provides that a pharmacist maintain continuous supervisions of an automated pharmacy
system as determined by rules adopted by the Texas State Board of Pharmacy.
Provides that to qualify as continuous supervision for an automated pharmacy system, a pharmacist is not
required to be physically present at the site of the automated pharmacy system and authorizes the
pharmacist to supervise the system electronically.
Requires the Texas Department of Health to study and report on the costs and savings associated with the
use of automated pharmacy systems to specified state officials.
Qualifications for a Provisional License to Practice Chiropractic - S.B. 144
by Senator Carona
House Sponsor: Representative Gray
Currently under Texas law, an applicant originally licensed to practice chiropractic in another state or
country before August 1, 1979, who did not meet licensing requirements substantially equivalent to the
requirements in Texas, is not eligible to be licensed in Texas.
Allows applicants that were licensed in another state or country before August 1, 1979, to become licensed
to practice chiropractic in Texas.
Sanctions Imposed on TDH Facilities - S.B. 279
by Senator Nelson
House Sponsor: Representative Gray
The Texas Department of Health's (TDH) regulatory review has identified enabling statutes for health
facility regulatory programs that lack license probation and emergency suspension as sanction options. A
specified probation time would give a health care facility the opportunity to correct violations before the
facility's license is suspended or revoked.
Authorizes TDH to place certain health care facilities on probation and provides for the immediate
suspension of an end stage renal disease facility's license without a hearing if the facility's lack of
compliance poses a danger to public health.
Authorizes TDH to place certain health care facilities on probation rather than suspending or revoking the
facility's license if TDH finds that the facility is in repeated noncompliance with applicable state law but that
the noncompliance does not endanger public health and safety.
Provides that the facility must correct the items of noncompliance during the probation period and report the
corrections to TDH for approval. TDH is authorized to suspend or revoke the license of a facility that does
not correct the items that were in noncompliance or that does not comply with the applicable requirements
during the probation period.
Senate Research Center 151