Legislative Update 2020The Florida Legislature has completed its second week of work and has been reviewing a number of health care bills that are of interest to pharmacy. Below we have a brief chart of the issues that will provide for you a quick update on what is pending.
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FPA Press Conference on
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The Florida Pharmacy Association participated in a press conference last week promoting and supporting changes to the pharmacy practice act that allows for testing and treating of patients for influenza and streptococcus. The House bill has moved through 2 committees with one more to go. The Senate version has not been placed on its first committee meeting agenda yet. The CDC estimates that between October 2018 and May 2019 there have been 36,400 – 61,200 flu deaths and 17.3 Million – 20.1 Million flu medical visits. Diagnosing and treating influenza within 48 hours of the onset of flu-like symptoms can shorten the duration and severity of the illness.| 130th Annual FPA Meeting and Convention J. W. Marriott Marco Island, Florida July 9 – 12, 2020  |
Pharmacy Rally on PBMs
Pharmacy advocates stormed the Florida Capitol calling for action on PBMs. Current efforts by the legislature include a bill on the House side that imposes reporting requirements that must be included in contracts between PBMs and health insurers and HMOs (PCB HMR 20-02). The House version needs elements added to it from HB961. The proposal on the Senate side is sponsored by Senator Tom Wright and gives some authority to the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation some authority to require reporting on certain information from HMOs, health insurers and PBMs. It appears that these two vehicles will be where our PBM advocacy is going to be focused. Clearly the rally advocates favored HB961 sponsored by Representative Jackie Toledo which contains a comprehensive framework of regulatory policy on PBMs.
ACTION ITEM SENATE: The call to membership is to ask members of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services and the Senate Appropriations Committee to take further steps to address problems in the PBM marketplace.
ACTION ITEM HOUSE: With passage of PCB HMR 20-02 we are not sure where this issue’s next step will be however members should consider reaching out to your legislator to talk about how the PBM industry is affecting your pharmacy. It is very likely that this issue may go directly to the House floor so your conversation needs to be with all 120 members of the Florida House.
