BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

C.S.H.B. 1409

By: Hopson

Public Health

Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

The 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997, enacted S.B. 786 permitting pharmacists to administer immunizations and vaccinations under a physician's written protocol. Since the bill passed, 1,268 Texas pharmacists have been certified to administer immunizations and vaccinations, and hundreds of community retail pharmacies offer immunizations as part of the pharmacy's patient care services. Currently, a pharmacist may administer immunizations to children between the ages of 14-17. 

 

C.S.H.B. 1409 authorizes a pharmacist to administer influenza vaccinations to a patient over seven years of age without an established physician-patient relationship.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

 

C.S.H.B. 1409 amends the Occupations Code to authorize a pharmacist to administer an influenza vaccination to a patient over seven years of age under the supervision of a physician without an established physician-patient relationship. The bill makes a technical correction relating to the rulemaking authority of the Texas Medical Board rather than the State Board of Medical Examiners.

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2009.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 1409 differs from the original by authorizing a pharmacist to administer an influenza vaccine to a patient over seven years of age under the supervision of a physician without an established physician-patient relationship, rather than decreasing to seven years of age the minimum patient age for a supervised pharmacist to be authorized to administer an immunization or vaccine with an established physician-patient relationship.