Current through Reg. 49, No. 38; September 20, 2024
(a)
Stocking. Anti-rabies biologicals may be procured and distributed by the
Department of State Health Services (department). The department may enroll
off-site depots for the storage and distribution of department-owned
anti-rabies biologicals. The depot will be licensed as defined by the Texas
Board of Pharmacy that allows for the storage and distribution of anti-rabies
biologicals to individuals presenting a signed order from a medical
practitioner licensed to practice in Texas. The products in each depot will
remain under the ownership of the department until issued.
(b) Issuing.
(1) Anti-rabies biologicals may only be
issued upon receipt of a signed order from a medical practitioner licensed to
practice in Texas.
(2) The
department has the right to refuse to provide anti-rabies biologicals if the
incident in question does not warrant rabies post-exposure prophylaxis
according to the recent ACIP's recommendations on human rabies
prevention.
(3) Partial issuance.
Issues may be less than the full regimen of treatment when:
(A) there is reason to believe that the
treatment may be terminated before completion; or
(B) in the event of a biological
shortage.
(4) For
individuals who are declined anti-rabies biologicals, the department will
provide a source from which biologicals may be purchased.
(5) At the time of issuance.
(A) A human rabies prophylaxis surveillance
report will be completed by the person issuing the anti-rabies biologicals and
forwarded to the appropriate health service region.
(B) An information sheet about rabies and
rabies biologicals will be provided by the department for use by the attending
medical practitioner to inform the patient of the risks and benefits of the
anti-rabies treatment.
(C) The
recent ACIP's recommendations on human rabies prevention will be provided to
the attending medical practitioner.
(D) An information sheet will be provided to
the patient or the patient's agent on the proper transport of the
biologicals.
(E) The patient or
patient's agent will receive and sign an information sheet pertaining to
payment responsibilities.
(F)
Anti-rabies materials may be obtained from the Department of State Health
Services, Immunization Branch, 1100 West 49th Street, Austin, Texas 78765-3199,
or by request by phoning, 1-800-252-9152.
(c) Return of anti-rabies biologicals. Once
issued to a patient or patient's agent and removed from the depot storage area,
no anti-rabies biologicals may be returned for credit or
reimbursement.
