Texas House Bill HB762

Texas 2011 - 82nd Regular

• Out of House Committee: 5/3/11
• Introduced: 1/20/11
• Voted on by House: 5/6/11
• Refer: 2/24/11
• Report Pass: 4/29/11
• Engrossed: 5/6/11
• Refer: 5/9/11

Caption

Relating to establishing a pill splitting program to reduce health plan costs for certain public employees.

Impact

If implemented, HB 762 will amend various sections of the Insurance Code, specifically Subchapters 1551, 1575, 1579, and 1601. These amendments will facilitate the formation of a voluntary pill splitting program under which participating public employees may receive incentives such as reduced copayments. By promoting pill splitting, the bill aims to lower overall drug costs and enhance accessibility to medications while potentially benefiting health care budgets.

Summary

House Bill 762 aims to establish a pill splitting program designed to reduce health plan costs for certain public employees in Texas. This program intends to provide a cost-effective means for individuals covered by specific public health benefit plans to obtain their medications by allowing them to split eligible prescription pills into smaller doses. The bill specifies the criteria for eligible medications and obligates participants to secure proper prescriptions from their healthcare providers before engaging in pill splitting.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding HB 762 include concerns regarding the safety and efficacy of splitting prescription pills. Critics may question the appropriateness of requiring individuals to split medications on their own without direct supervision from healthcare professionals, which could lead to improper dosing or undermined medication effectiveness. Furthermore, there may be apprehensions regarding the legal ramifications for pharmaceutical manufacturers, as the bill stipulates that they would not be liable for damages related to the pill splitting program.