Board adopts continuing‑education tracking rules, proposes telehealth documentation standard and hears PMP update
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Summary
The board approved continuing‑education rules implementing SB 912, discussed a proposed telehealth documentation rule under HB 1700, and received Prescription Monitoring Program statistics showing increased registration and integrated EHR searches.
The Texas State Board of Pharmacy approved amendments to continuing education requirements to implement Senate Bill 912, and staff presented a proposed telehealth documentation rule tied to House Bill 1700. The board also received an update on the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP).
Continuing education: Staff explained that amendments require pharmacists to report at least 30 contact hours (3 CEUs) and pharmacy technicians to report 20 contact hours to renew, clarify record‑retention for all CE activity (three years), recognize equivalency for passing standardized exams in some cases, and mandate use of a board continuing‑education tracking system set to be effective Sept. 1, 2026. The board voted to adopt these rules during the meeting.
Telehealth proposal: Staff presented a proposed new rule (2.91.13) that would implement HB 1700 requirements for pharmacists providing telehealth services. The draft rule defines telehealth according to the Texas Occupations Code, requires informed consent (written or verbal) that covers treatment, data collection and data sharing, and requires pharmacies to document consent by recording the pharmacist's initials or identification code. Documentation must be retained at the pharmacy for at least two years and be produced within 72 hours to board agents on request. Board members discussed whether to explicitly include an electronic health record as an acceptable storage location and staff noted jurisdictional and access limitations for records stored outside pharmacy systems; the item was presented as a proposal for rulemaking rather than being adopted at this meeting.
PMP update: PMP staff reported program metrics for the quarter: 3,432 newly registered health‑care users, 209,972 total registered users (about 75.4% of eligible Texas licensees), and 83.9 million searches during the period, 81.1% of which were integrated EHR searches. Texas added Utah as a data‑sharing partner, bringing total interstate partners to 41.
Other administrative actions: The board adopted a four‑year rule review plan (FY 2026–2029), approved strategic plan issue statements for FY27–31, approved the FY25 annual report, and approved a set of proposed agreed board orders and remedial plans. The board also denied a petition from an individual seeking a six‑year cap for licensure by examination and an inactive‑status option for a licensee living abroad.
Next steps: The continuing‑education tracking system will require procurement and vendor selection; staff said they are pursuing an RFP/RFQ process. The telehealth rule was advanced as a proposed rule and will return for formal rulemaking. PMP changes and statistics will be tracked by staff.
