Honorable Senfronia Thompson, Chair, House Committee on Public Health
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3284 by Sheffield (Relating to prescribing and dispensing controlled substances and monitoring the prescribing and dispensing of controlled substances under the Texas Controlled Substances Act; providing for administrative penalties.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB3284, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted: an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2021.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2020
$0
2021
$0
2022
$0
2023
$0
2024
$0
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from General Revenue Fund 1
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2019
2020
($311,188)
$311,188
4.0
2021
($294,408)
$294,408
4.0
2022
($294,408)
$294,408
4.0
2023
($294,408)
$294,408
4.0
2024
($294,408)
$294,408
4.0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Health and Safety Code as it relates to prescribing and dispensing controlled substances and monitoring the prescribing and dispensing of controlled substances under the Texas Controlled Substances Act; providing for administrative penalties.
The bill would require prescribers to issue electronic prescriptions for controlled substances except in certain circumstances or in the event the prescriber has obtained a waiver from the Texas State Board of Pharmacy (TSBP).
The provisions of the bill would add reporting requirements for veterinarians who dispense controlled substances. The bill would require electronic prescriptions for controlled substances except in certain circumstances.
Under the provisions of the bill, TSBP may not permit the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and other law enforcement or prosecutorial staff access to information in the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) database unless TSBP is provided a warrant, subpoena, or other court order, at which point DPS, other law enforcement, or prosecutorial staff may submit a request for information to TSBP. The bill requires that TSBP notify relevant regulatory agencies of the disclosure of information in certain circumstances.
The bill would authorize access to information in the PMP for health care facilities certified by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
The bill would add restrictions to a prescriber's authority to prescribe controlled substances for acute pain.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2019.
Methodology
Under the provisions of the bill, DPS, other law enforcement, or prosecutorial staff that obtain a warrant, subpoena, or other court order may submit a request for information in the PMP to TSBP. TSBP indicates that it would require two additional full-time-equivalent (FTE) positions and $170,643 in General Revenue in fiscal year 2020 and each fiscal year thereafter to process information requests for the PMP.
The bill would require prescribers to issue electronic prescriptions for controlled substances except in certain circumstances or in the event the prescriber has obtained a waiver from the Texas State Board of Pharmacy (TSBP). The agency indicates it would require two additional FTEs and $114,701 in General Revenue in fiscal year 2020 and each fiscal year thereafter to process waiver requests from prescribers.
According to the Board of Pharmacy's analysis, the agency would require an additional $25,844 in other operating and equipment costs in fiscal year 2020 and $9,064 in each subsequent fiscal year.
The estimated total to comply with the provisions of the bill would be $311,188 in fiscal year 2020 and $294,408 in each subsequent fiscal year. This analysis assumes that any increased cost to TSBP for the PMP, which is supported by seven agencies who are statutorily required to generate sufficient revenue to cover its costs of operation, would be offset by an increase in fee generated revenue.
DPS, the Department of Licensing and Regulation, the Texas Medical Board, the Board of Dental Examiners, and the Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners indicate the provisions of the bill could be implemented using existing resources.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
515 Board of Pharmacy, 578 Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, 405 Department of Public Safety, 452 Department of Licensing and Regulation, 503 Texas Medical Board, 504 Texas State Board of Dental Examiners