BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2425

By: Kacal

Public Health

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been noted that a physician is already allowed to delegate to a pharmacist the ability to implement or modify a patient's drug therapy under a protocol if the pharmacist practices in certain health care facilities. H.B. 2425 seeks to allow a physician to delegate this same authority to pharmacists working in federally qualified health centers.

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. 2425 amends the Occupations Code to authorize a physician to delegate certain acts of a patient's drug therapy management to a properly qualified and trained pharmacist, including the implementation or modification of a patient's drug therapy under a protocol, if the pharmacist practices in a federally qualified health center and the federally qualified health center in which the pharmacist practices has bylaws and a medical staff policy that permits a physician to delegate to a pharmacist the management of a patient's drug therapy.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.