Veterinarians Exempt from New E-Prescribing Requirements

Some members of the Texas Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA) have reported that pharmacies have been asking them for electronic prescriptions or waivers prior to filling controlled substance prescriptions for their clients.

Veterinarians should be aware that, during the 2019 legislative session, bills passed mandating e-prescribing for most prescribers unless a waiver had been specifically granted by the appropriate licensing agency, effective January 1, 2021. TVMA worked to make sure that veterinarians have a specifically worded exemption from this legal requirement found in Sec. 481.0755 of the Controlled Substances Act. Due to this exemption, veterinarians are NOT required to obtain a waiver from e-prescribing as required by Sec. 481.0756. Furthermore, the Texas Board of Pharmacy (TBP) website reports that a pharmacist is not responsible for ensuring that an appropriate waiver has been granted. If you have issues with a pharmacy, it’s a good idea to make sure you speak with the pharmacist in charge and not simply a store employee.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact TVMA Director of Government Relations/General Counsel Elizabeth Choate, JD, at echoate@tvma.org or 512-452-4224.