Relating to disclosure and documentation of increased fall risk information for certain prescription drugs prescribed to patients 65 years of age and older.

The text as introduced · 465 words

90R3186 AB-D

By: Lalani
H.B. No. 550

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to disclosure and documentation of increased fall risk

information for certain prescription drugs prescribed to patients

65 years of age and older.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subtitle I, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is

amended by adding Chapter 184 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 184. DISCLOSURE AND DOCUMENTATION OF INCREASED FALL RISK

INFORMATION FOR CERTAIN PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

Sec. 184.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "fall risk

increasing drug" means a prescription drug posing a substantial

risk to a patient's balance, stability, or alertness.

Sec. 184.002. REQUIRED DISCLOSURE AND DOCUMENTATION. (a)

Each physician and health care practitioner licensed to practice in

this state who prescribes a fall risk increasing drug to a patient

who is 65 years of age or older shall disclose to the patient or the

patient's legal guardian information on the increased fall risk

associated with use of the drug.

(b) A physician or health care practitioner who prescribes a

fall risk increasing drug to a patient 65 years of age or older

shall document in the patient's medical record that the physician

or practitioner provided to the patient the information required by

Subsection (a).

(c) The disclosure and documentation required under this

section must be in the form and manner prescribed by the executive

commissioner and comply with any applicable rules adopted by the

state licensing agency with regulatory authority over the physician

or health care practitioner.

Sec. 184.003. LIST OF FALL RISK INCREASING DRUGS. (a) The

executive commissioner shall develop a list of prescription drugs

considered to be a fall risk increasing drug and shall annually post

the list on the commission's Internet website.

(b) In developing the list required under Subsection (a),

the executive commissioner may consider for inclusion on the list

prescription drugs:

(1) identified as increasing the risk of falls under

the most current edition of the Beers Criteria for Potentially

Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults published by the

American Geriatrics Society; or

(2) designated as a fall risk increasing drug by a

pharmacy care initiative administered by the federal Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention.

Sec. 184.004. DISCIPLINARY ACTION. A physician or health

care practitioner who holds a license issued by a state licensing

agency is subject to review and disciplinary action by the agency

for a violation of this chapter as if the physician or practitioner

violated the applicable licensing law.

SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date

of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human

Services Commission shall adopt any rules necessary to implement

Chapter 184, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2027.