Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Resources
The Texas State Board of Pharmacy (TSBP) is actively compiling and adding resources to this page to help assist consumers and pharmacy professionals in navigating pharmacy-related obstacles during the COVID-19 pandemic.
TSBP strongly recommends bookmarking this page and returning often to check for updates. We also recommend clearing your browser cache occasionally to be sure you are able to see the latest updates.
General Resources
Texas Department of State Health Services - dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
World Health Organization - www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Diversion Control Division - www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/coronavirus.html
UPDATE FROM DEA: Effective March 23, 2020, the DEA Call Center has temporarily suspended phone operations due to COVD-19 health epidemic. Assistance will only be available through DEA.Registration.Help@usdoj.gov. We will respond to your emails as quickly as possible.
Please register your e-mail address using the below link to obtain up to date information concerning DEA’s response to the COVID-19 health emergency.
https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDOJDEADCD/subscriber/new
Please continue to direct all policy questions concerning COVID-19 to the Policy email box at Natural.Disaster@usdoj.gov
Resources for Pharmacy Professionals
Rule Waivers & Emergency Procedure Regulations
Texas State Board of Pharmacy (TSBP)
Temporary Suspension of Certain Rule Requirements
Issued March 27, 2020
§291.76 – The Office of the Governor has temporarily suspended the requirement for a pharmacist to visit an ambulatory surgical center at least once each calendar week of board rule 291.76(c)(1)(B)(xiv).
§291.151 – The Office of the Governor has temporarily suspended the requirement for a pharmacist to visit a freestanding emergency medical care facility at least once each calendar week of board rule 291.151(c)(1)(B)(xiv).
§295.7 – The Office of the Governor has temporarily suspended the expiration dates of pharmacist licenses of board rule §295.7.
§295.8 – The Office of the Governor has temporarily suspended the continuing education requirements for pharmacists of board rule 295.8(a)(1).
§297.3 – The Office of the Governor has temporarily suspended the expiration dates of pharmacy technician registrations and the continuing education and fingerprinting requirements of board rule 297.3(d)(1)-(3).
§297.5 – The Office of the Governor has temporarily suspended the expiration dates of pharmacy technician trainee registrations of board rule 297.5.
§297.8 – The Office of the Governor has temporarily suspended the continuing education requirements for pharmacy technicians of board rule 297.8.
Issued March 20, 2020
§291.17 – The Office of the Governor has temporarily suspended the annual inventory notarization requirement in §291.17(c)(3).
§291.33 – The Office of the Governor has temporarily suspended the requirement in §291.33(c)(1)(B)(iii) to have in-person contact for patient counseling in order to allow patient counseling to be performed by telephonic consultation.
§291.36 – The Office of the Governor has temporarily suspended the requirement in §291.36(2) to obtain to obtain an inspection within the last renewal period in order to renew a Class A-S pharmacy license.
§291.54 – The Office of the Governor has temporarily suspended the requirement in §291.54(a)(13) to obtain an inspection within the last renewal period in order to renew a Class B pharmacy license.
§291.77 – The Office of the Governor has temporarily suspended the requirement in §291.77(2) to obtain an inspection within the last renewal period in order to renew a Class C-S pharmacy license.
§291.106 – The Office of the Governor has temporarily suspended the requirement in §291.106(4) to obtain an inspection within the last renewal period in order to renew a Class E-S pharmacy license.
§291.121 – The Office of the Governor has temporarily suspended the requirement in §291.121(d)(3), (4)(C)(i) to the extent necessary to expand the pilot program for automated systems in order to allow for remote automated dispensing.
§295.15 – The Office of the Governor has temporarily suspended the requirement in §295.15(c)(2)(C) to maintain documentation of current certification in American Heart Association's Basic Cardiac Life Support for Health-Care Providers or its equivalent in order to provide immunization or vaccination under written protocol of a physician.
Emergency Adoptions & Procedures
New Rule 291.30 Adopted on Emergency Basis - Adopted March 20, 2020
Guidance for dispensing drugs in compliance with Emergency Board Rule 291.30
The Texas State Board of Pharmacy is issuing the following guidance to pharmacists when dispensing prescriptions for Chloroquine, Hydroxychloroquine, Mefloquine, or Azithromycin. The rule does not prevent a physician from prescribing one of these drugs for an off-label use.
The intent of board rule 291.30 is to prevent the stockpiling of the drugs and to ensure that reasonable quantities are available for ALL patients that require therapy with the drugs, including patients with a COVID-19 diagnosis.
It was not the board’s intent to hinder the use of the drugs on patients that are in need of drug therapy, but rather to prevent unreasonable quantities that would otherwise be representative of hoarding or stockpiling tactics.
In addition, the rule does not apply to a prescription issued for a patient already established on the medication (e.g., prescription to treat rheumatoid arthritis or lupus for already established patients).
Emergency Dispensing of Prescription Medications - Authorized March 19, 2020
Texas Medical Board (TMB)
TMB Waiver for Chronic Pain Patients - March 19, 2020
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
CMS waiver of signature requirement for Part D - March 20, 2020
Guidance
DEA - How to Prescribe Controlled Substances to Patients During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PDF) - March 31, 2020
DEA Guidance for Oral Schedule II Prescriptions: Pharmacists may fill an emergency oral schedule II prescription. The practitioner must provide the follow-up paper prescription within 15 days (rather than 7 days) and, additionally, will allow a facsimile or image (i.e., scan or photograph) of the prescription to be sent to the pharmacy in lieu of paper. Read the full statment by clicking here. - March 27, 2020
Destruction of Drugs at LTC Facilities - March 24, 2020
Sterile Compounding Guidance - March 13, 2020
Compounding Hand Sanitizer Products - March 2020
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Diversion Control Division has published a COVID-19 information page that contains guidance concerning COVID-19 and the national drug supply, electronic prescribing of controlled substances, telemedicine, mediated assisted treatment, and other federal and state information. See more details and future updates at the link below:
Statements & Responses
USP has issued an informational document to address the garb and personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Read it via the link below:
The American Medical Association, American Pharmacists Association, and American Society of Health-System Pharmacists issued a joint statement today on inappropriate ordering, prescribing or dispensing of medications to treat COVID-19. Read it via the link below:
AMA, APHA, ASHP issue joint statement about COVID-19 medications - March 25, 2020
Renewal Information
The Texas State Board of Pharmacy (TSBP) is working diligently on processing applications for renewal and upgrades. We appreciate your patience during this COVID-19 pandemic.
See the current information regarding waivers of renewals, inventory and TSBP procedures below.
As of March 27, 2020, Governor Greg Abbott has waived certain licensing renewal regulations for Texas pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy technician trainees. With these waivers, the Governor is temporarily extending expiration dates for licenses and temporarily suspending continuing education requirements for pharmacists.
At this time, the Office of the Governor grants the request in part. In accordance with section 418.016 of the Texas Government Code, the Office of the Governor grants the TSBP’s request to suspend RULE §295.7, RULE §295.8(a)(1), RULE §297.3(d)(1)-(3), RULE §297.8, and RULE §297.5, to the extent necessary to temporarily extend expiration dates on licenses and waive the continuing education requirements.
As a result, the two-year renewals for pharmacists and technicians with expiration dates of March 31, 2020, and April 30, 2020 have been extended through June 30, 2020 without any late fees.
REMEMBER: Once your renewal has been processed, you can print your renewal certificate on our website here.
Emergency Temporary Pharmacist Licensure (Reciprocity)
To qualify for an emergency license for a pharmacist, you must be currently licensed as a pharmacist in another US state or territory and in good standing. The temporary emergency registration is only good for 6 months form date of issue and is not renewable.
To register, go to the TSBP Online Portal and register for an online account. If you previously had an account, log in with your username and password. After logging in, select “Texas State Board of Pharmacy” for the application, and “Initial Temporary RPH”. Complete the online application. You should receive an email from TSBP staff with further instructions for applying using the NABP Passport.
Emergency Temporary Pharmacy Technician Registration
To qualify for an emergency registration for a pharmacy technician, you must be currently registered as a pharmacy technician in another US state or territory and in good standing. The temporary emergency registration is only good for 6 months form date of issue and is not renewable.
To register, go to the TSBP Online Portal and register for an online account. If you previously had an account, log in with your username and password. After logging in, select “Texas State Board of Pharmacy” for the application, and “Initial Temporary Technician”. Complete the online application. You should receive an email from TSBP staff with further instructions for applying using the NABP Passport.
Resources
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Diversion Control Division - https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/coronavirus.html
Texas Pharmacy Association (TPA) - www.texaspharmacy.org/page/coronavirus
Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacists (TSHP) - https://tshp.org/page/COVID19
Alliance of Independent Pharmacists of Texas (AIPT) - www.aiptexas.org/coronavirus-resources
American Pharmacists Association (APhA) - www.pharmacist.com/coronavirus
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) - www.ashp.org/Pharmacy-Practice/Resource-Centers/Coronavirus
National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) - https://nabp.pharmacy/coronavirus-updates/
National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) - ncpa.org/coronavirus-information
National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) - www.nacds.org/prepared/
International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) decision tree guide for pharmacists - FIP Chart
Applicants
Pharmacist Exam Applicants
The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) has issued an update regarding NAPLEX and MPJE candidates, including testing center closures, waiving of rescheduling fees, possible eligibility extensions, and Authorization to Test (ATT) information. See more details and potential future updates at the link below:
Please also see testing center updates regarding the pharmacist exams from Pearson VUE here:
Pharmacy Technican PTCB Exam Applicants
PTCB has issued the following information regarding exam applicants:
Please also see testing center updates regarding the PTCB exam from Pearson VUE here:
Last Updated: April 3, 2020
