Highlights of the 79th Texas Legislature - Senate

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES/REGULATORY
Deadline for Passing the Examination for Medical License─S.B. 424
By Senator Carona—House Sponsor: Representative Branch
Currently, an applicant for a Texas medical license must complete three U.S. Medical Licensing Exams within seven
years. In addition, the deadline for completing medical board examinations is two years after being awarded a
degree. S.B. 424 addresses the situation of dual degree students who often need longer than two years following the
awarding of their medical degrees to complete board exams because of their dual degree pursuits. This bill:
Requires an applicant seeking a joint degree (a doctor of philosophy degree and a doctor of medicine degree or
doctor of osteopathy degree) to pass each part of the examination within two years of completing graduate medical
training.
Provides that an applicant for a medical license has up to 10 years to complete his or her board examinations if the
applicant is specialty board certified by a specialty board that is a member of the American Board of Medical
Specialties or the Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists or if the applicant has received a faculty temporary license and
after twelve months is recommended to the board by the chief administrative officer and president of the institution in
which the applicant has practiced.
Extends to 10 years the time frame to pass each part of the examination.
Extends the anniversary date to pass each part of the examination for an applicant seeking a joint degree (a doctor of
philosophy degree and a doctor of medicine degree or doctor of osteopathy degree) to the 10th anniversary if the
applicant is specialty board certified by a specialty board that is a member of the American Board of Medical
Specialties or is a member of the Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists or if the applicant has been issued a faculty
temporary license, as prescribed by board rule, and has practiced under such a license for a minimum of 12 months
and, at the conclusion of the 12-month period, has been recommended to the board by the chief administrative officer
and the president of the institution in which the applicant practiced under the faculty temporary license.
Makes the changes in law made by this Act applicable to a person who files an application with the Texas State
Board of Medical Examiners for a license to practice medicine in this state on or after the effective date of this Act or
whose license application is pending on the effective date of this Act.
Distribution of Compounded and Prepackaged Drugs to Pharmacies─S.B. 492
By Senator Van de Putte—House Sponsor: Representative Delisi
Medication shortages have occurred in recent years for various reasons and sometimes these shortages can last
months or longer resulting in critical products being unavailable for essential patient care demands in hospitals,
clinics, and surgical centers. Such medications require compounding and it is necessary to ensure that the process
occurs in a controlled and safe pharmacy environment. Compounding pharmacists do not compound if the drug is
commercially available and pharmacies do not compound, dispense, sell, or distribute without a physician's order or
prescription. This bill:
Authorizes the dispensing, sale, or distribution of compounded drugs to state-licensed physicians for in-house
administration and the distribution of compounded and prepackaged products to and from pharmacies under
common ownership.
Authorizes the Texas State Board of Pharmacy (TSBP) or a representative of the board to enter and inspect a facility
relative to components used in compounding, finished and unfinished products, containers, and labeling of any item.
134 HIGHLIGHTS - 79 TH TEXAS LEGISLATURE