Sec. 161.01035. PROVIDER CHOICE SYSTEM

(a) The department shall implement a provider choice system for the vaccines for children program operated by the department under authority of 42 U.S.C. Section 1396s and the adult safety net vaccination program.

(b) The department shall ensure that eligible health care providers participating in the vaccines for children program or the adult safety net vaccination program may select any licensed vaccine, including combination vaccines and any dosage forms that:

(1) are recommended by the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices;

(2) are made available to the department by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States Public Health Service; and

(3) for adult vaccines, are on the department-approved list of vaccines offered by the adult safety net vaccination program.

(c) For the purposes of this section, "equivalent vaccines" means two or more vaccines, excluding the influenza vaccine, that meet all of the following:

(1) protect a recipient of a vaccine against the same infection or infections;

(2) require the same number of doses;

(3) have similar safety and efficacy profiles; and

(4) are recommended for comparable populations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States Public Health Service.

(d) The department shall provide a vaccine selected by a health care provider under Subsection (b) only if the cost to the department of providing the vaccine is not more than 115 percent of the lowest-priced equivalent vaccine.

(e) This section does not apply in the event of a disaster or public health emergency, terrorist attack, hostile military or paramilitary action, or extraordinary law enforcement emergency.

(f) The department shall convene the immunization work group established under Section 161.0095 and solicit its recommendations regarding development of a plan for the implementation of the provider choice system under this section. The plan shall include the education of participating health care providers about:

(1) procedures and distribution systems of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States Public Health Service; and

(2) vaccine options, the enrollment process, ordering, accountability, and reporting procedures.

Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 258 , Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.