SRC-MKV, C.S.S.B. 332 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 332 77R4776 JMM-DBy: Moncrief Health & Human Services 2/1/2001 Committee Report (Substituted) DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently the Texas Medical Practice act prohibits physicians from giving patients free medications under the Indigent Patient Program because of a definitional limitation. This bill corrects the definitional limitation, allowing physicians to give their indigent patients a full course of medication supplied by the pharmaceutical company without risk of infringing on pharmacists' dispensing authority. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 158.001, Occupations Code, by adding Subsection (c), as follows: (c) Provides that this chapter does not prohibit a physician from supplying to a patient, free of charge, a drug provided to the physician by a drug manufacturer for an indigent pharmaceutical program if, in the physician's opinion, it is advantageous to the patient, in adhering to a course of treatment prescribed by the physician, to receive the drug. SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES SECTION 1. Differs from the original by amending Section 158.001, Occupations Code, whereas the original amended Section 158.002 (a), Occupations Code., while the wording remains substantially the same.