Committee hears contested arguments over bill to let pharmacists dispense ivermectin without prescription; HB 25 left pending

The House Committee on Public Health left House Bill 25 pending after a contested hearing over a proposal to make ivermectin available from pharmacists without a health‑care practitioner’s prescription.

Rep. Steve Schauffner, author of HB 25, described the measure as “making ivermectin over the counter, which by definition means without a prescription,” and said the bill would direct the Department of State Health Services commissioner to issue a statewide order authorizing licensed pharmacists to dispense ivermectin without a practitioner’s prescription. The language discussed in the hearing would require standardized procedures for pharmacists and an annual written report of the number of doses dispensed.

Why it matters: Supporters told the committee that ivermectin has a long safety record, that restricting access forced some Texans to buy veterinary or foreign-source products during COVID, and that behind‑the‑counter pharmacist access offers safer, more affordable alternatives for rural residents. Opponents, including the Texas Medical Association, said making a medication available without a physician’s diagnosis or prescription risks patient safety by removing the physician‑patient relationship and the diagnostic component that physicians provide before prescribing drugs with potential interactions.

Most important facts - HB 25 would require the DSHS commissioner to issue a statewide order authorizing licensed pharmacists to dispense ivermectin without a health‑care…