Bill > HB3175

This bill requires the Texas commissioner of state health services to issue a statewide order allowing licensed pharmacists to dispense ivermectin (a medication originally developed to treat parasitic infections) without a traditional prescription. The order must include standardized procedures for pharmacists to follow when dispensing the medication and require pharmacists to provide patients with usage instructions. Pharmacists who dispense ivermectin under this order would be protected from criminal, civil, and professional liability, except in cases of willful misconduct or gross negligence. Pharmacists would be required to submit an annual written report detailing the number of ivermectin doses dispensed. The executive commissioner and Texas State Board of Pharmacy are authorized to adopt rules to implement this new law. The bill would take effect immediately if it receives a two-thirds vote in the Texas legislature, or on September 1, 2025, if it does not receive the necessary immediate vote. This legislation appears to be aimed at increasing patient access to ivermectin, which gained attention during the COVID-19 pandemic as a potential treatment, despite limited scientific evidence of its effectiveness for that purpose.

Health and Social Services

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB3175