Texas Health and Human Services Commission spokesperson Kelli Weldon told Becker’s that those wishing to testify at board meetings must complete the public testimony registration form and disclose “if they are employed by a drug manufacturer of the drug they are testifying on or if they have directly or indirectly received payments or gifts from one or more pharmaceutical companies.”
Board meeting speakers must name the drug companies employing them or from which they received payments or gifts.
The commission’s changes come after a Center for Public Integrity and NPR investigation into the drug industry’s influence on boards like the Texas Drug Utilization Review Board, according to the report. Arizona, Colorado and New York also have responded to the investigation.
Ms. Weldon told NPR the drug utilization review board also adopted revised bylaws, which were in the works before the media investigation. The new bylaws require members not to vote “on issues that present possible monetary gain or a potential conflict of interest.”
Members also are not allowed to receive payment for services. The commission may remove a member for noncompliance with those guidelines.
Ms. Weldon said training requirements for board members are now included with the adoption of the revised bylaws.
Access the full NPR report here.
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