By Van de Putte H.R. No. 1302 76R17936 SMZ-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The 14,683 licensed and practicing pharmacists in 1-2 Texas are part of one of the most trusted professional services in 1-3 our nation; and 1-4 WHEREAS, The number of prescriptions dispensed annually is 1-5 projected to double in the next five years as a result of an aging 1-6 population, an expanding array of innovative drugs approved by the 1-7 Food and Drug Administration, and an increase in the affordability 1-8 of prescription drugs from expanded coverage by health insurance 1-9 plans; and 1-10 WHEREAS, In spite of the increasing demand for basic 1-11 prescription services, pharmacists are spending more time working 1-12 through the complicated and time-consuming administrative duties 1-13 required by modern insurance coverage, consequently spending less 1-14 time in their appropriate role of dispensing drugs and counseling 1-15 patients; and 1-16 WHEREAS, These administrative requirements, compounded by the 1-17 inability of pharmacists to make decisions about the operation of 1-18 their pharmacies related to adequate staffing and patient support, 1-19 have created a less-than-satisfactory work environment, often 1-20 resulting in a pharmacist working long hours with little or no time 1-21 for breaks, meals, or other basic needs; and 1-22 WHEREAS, The number of pharmacists graduating from Texas 1-23 colleges of pharmacy is not keeping pace with the need, and many 1-24 parts of Texas, including West Texas, North Texas, and the Rio 2-1 Grande Valley, are experiencing critical shortages of pharmacists; 2-2 and 2-3 WHEREAS, These shortages, exacerbated by the lack of adequate 2-4 residency practice sites and the exodus of graduates seeking 2-5 residency at community and institutional practice settings outside 2-6 of Texas, compound the problem of an increasing workload shared by 2-7 shorthanded pharmacy staffs; and 2-8 WHEREAS, The Texas State Board of Pharmacy and Texas pharmacy 2-9 associations have recognized the increasingly adverse working 2-10 environments that pharmacists are facing, and the board has 2-11 appointed a task force to examine pharmacist working conditions and 2-12 their impact on public health and safety; and 2-13 WHEREAS, The Texas State Board of Pharmacy has recommended 2-14 that employers assist in alleviating the increasing pressures on 2-15 pharmacists by facilitating communication between employers and 2-16 pharmacists on issues related to working conditions and by 2-17 empowering pharmacists-in-charge to make decisions regarding 2-18 working conditions, staffing, and other practice issues that affect 2-19 the efficiency and effectiveness of a pharmacy in meeting the needs 2-20 of its customers; now, therefore, be it 2-21 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas 2-22 Legislature hereby urge the Texas State Board of Pharmacy to 2-23 consider the recommendations put forth by the Task Force on Working 2-24 Conditions and make changes in current rules to improve the work 2-25 environment of Texas pharmacists to allow more time for patient 2-26 care and counseling, to develop guidelines for better working 2-27 conditions in Texas pharmacies, and to encourage employers to adopt 3-1 and abide by these guidelines; and, be it further 3-2 RESOLVED, That the chief clerk of the house of 3-3 representatives forward an official copy of this resolution to the 3-4 executive director of the Texas State Board of Pharmacy.