BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1706

By: Oliverson

Public Health

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been noted that many communities in Texas lack easy access to pharmacies and that patients in parts of Texas designated as medically underserved areas must drive great distances to access pharmacy services. While recent legislative efforts creating telepharmacy systems have proven beneficial, there have been calls for further efforts regarding the types of health care facilities where telepharmacies can be established. H.B. 1706 seeks to answer these calls by enabling certain health care facilities in areas with limited access to pharmacy services to utilize telepharmacy services.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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

H.B. 1706 amends the Occupations Code to include a federally qualified health center as defined by federal law, an ambulatory surgical center, a birthing center, a community health center, a hospital, an outpatient clinic, and a public health clinic among the types of health care facilities at which an authorized telepharmacy system may be located.

H.B. 1706 repeals Sections 562.110(g), (h), and (i), Occupations Code, as added by Chapter 485 (H.B. 2561), Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.