Highlights of the 79th Texas Legislature - Senate

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES/REGULATORY
Authorizes the TSBP representative, except as otherwise provided in an inspection warrant, to inspect, within
reasonable limits and in a reasonable manner, a facility's storage, equipment, security, prescription drugs or devices,
components used in compounding, finished and unfinished products, or records or to perform an inventory of any
stock of prescription drugs or devices, components used in compounding, or finished and unfinished products in a
facility and obtain samples of these substances.
Requires a pharmacy, to dispense and deliver a compounded drug, to comply with certain procedures, guidelines,
standards, and board rules.
Provides that a Class A pharmacy licensed under Chapter 560 (Licensing of Pharmacies), Occupations Code, is not
required to register or be licensed under Chapter 431 (Texas Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act), Health and Safety
Code, to distribute compounded pharmaceutical products to a Class C pharmacy licensed under Chapter 560,
Occupations Code. Provides that a Class C pharmacy licensed under Chapter 560, Occupations Code, is not
required to register or be licensed under Chapter 431, Health and Safety Code, to distribute compounded and
prepackaged pharmaceutical products to other Class C pharmacies licensed under Chapter 560, Occupations Code,
and under common ownership.
Provides that a person who engages in wholesale distribution of prescription drugs in this state for use in humans is
exempt from this subchapter under certain conditions.
Authorizes a pharmacy to dispense and deliver a reasonable quantity of a compounded drug to a practitioner for
office use by the practitioner. Defines "office use" as the provision of drugs by a practitioner; "prepackaging" as the
act of repackaging and relabeling drug products from a manufacturer into dose packaging for distribution; and
"reasonable quantity" as the amount of a drug that may be reasonably used by the expiration date, the amount that is
proper given the intended use, and the amount a pharmacy is capable of compounding.
Requires a pharmacy, to dispense and deliver a compounded drug, to verify the source of raw materials, comply with
United States Pharmacopoeia guidelines, and comply with competency standards and board rules.
Expands the definition of "manufacture" to include repackaging that is done in accordance with this Act.
Discounting Prices for Health Care to Uninsured Patients—S.B. 500
By Senator West—House Sponsors: Representatives Taylor and Martinez-Fischer
Chapter 552 of the Texas Insurance Code bars hospitals, physicians, and other health care providers from setting
lower prices for an uninsured patient unless the patient is medically indigent. There are a large number of working
people in Texas who are uninsured, and may not qualify for a discount because they are not indigent. This bill:
Provides that a health care provider may provide discounts to patients under federal, state, or local indigent health
care programs, persons qualifying for indigent health care services or charity care, and uninsured patients.
Clarifies that managed care providers may enter into contracts to provide health care pursuant to a health insurance
plan or policy.
HIGHLIGHTS - 79 TH TEXAS LEGISLATURE 135