SB 195 Controlled Substance Registration

SB 195 Authored by Senator Schwertner, this legislation transfers regulation of the state's prescription drug monitoring program from the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to the Texas State Board of Pharmacy (TBOP), effective September 2016. This eliminates the requirement for a practitioner to have a Controlled Substances Registration with the state of Texas, effective Sept. 1, 2016. To implement this change, all active/current Controlled Substances Registrations (CSR) will automatically be renewed on Aug. 20, 2015, and will expire on Aug. 31, 2016. New certificates will not be mailed with automatic renewals. CSR's may be verified by visiting the CSR Search & Verification SystemThe goal of the legislation is to enhance the functionality and accessibility of the prescription drug monitoring program, as well as to prevent interstate doctor shopping for controlled substances by allowing pharmacists and health practitioners to share information across state lines. SB 195 makes a number of important changes to the prescription drug monitoring program, including:

Persons must now register with the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration, rather than DPS, in order to manufacture, distribute, analyze, or dispense a controlled substance.The Texas Board of Pharmacy will run the data collection and reporting for the prescription monitoring drug program and an expanded list of health care providers – including advanced practice nurses – will be permitted automatic electronic access to this information upon receiving/renewing their license. The Texas Board of Pharmacy has the option to enter into an interoperability agreement with other states to share information through a central database, such as the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy's InterConnect database.

What YOU Need to Know now: Changes for Controlled Substance Registration (CSR)

Registration: Since the prescription drug monitoring is transitioning out of DPS, all active/current CSR's were automatically renewed on Aug. 20, 2015, and will expire on Aug. 31, 2016. If your registration expired on or before July 31, you will need to submit a renewal application online and pay a $25 renewal fee and a $50 late fee (Verify your status in the CSR Search & Verification System). New or Original Certifications: During this transition, new applications will continue to processed and submitted as usual and will expire on Aug. 31, 2016. (Instructions for submitting new or renewal applications can be found at CSR Licensing & Registration).

The above change will not apply to registrations that expired on or before July 31, 2015. To renew an expired CSR, practitioners must submit a renewal application and pay the $25 renewal fee and $50 late fee.

New/original registrations will continue to be accepted and processed. New registrations issued after Aug. 20, 2015, will expire Aug. 31, 2016. The completed application and $25 processing fee must be mailed to the address provided on the webpage. Fees will not be prorated.

Application for Registration/Renewal (PDF)Certificate of Exemption From Fee (PDF)Modification of Registration – Practitioners (PDF)

Physician Assistant/Advanced Practice Nurse

Prior to registration or renewal your supervising/delegating physician must be listed with the Texas Medical Board as giving you prescriptive authority for controlled substances. The information must reflect an approval date and "yes" must be indicated for controlled substances as well as delegating prescriptive authority.

Application for Mid-Level Practitioner (PA/APN) Registration/Renewal (PDF) (Must submit current supervising physician information each year with renewal or new application)Modification of Registration - Physician Assistants and Advance Practice Nurses (PDF)