|
November 13, 2020 |
||
FL Department of Health Action for Health Facilities – TAKE ACTIONThe Florida Department of Health is looking at a cluster of Burkholderia lata (B. lata) infections and is asking that health care facilities perform a laboratory look back and notify their county health department of any potential cases that meet the following criteria:
Included in the request from the Florida Department of Health was information related to an FDA nationwide recall on October 28, 2020 of Paroex® Chlorhexidine Gluconate Oral Rinse USP 0.12%. This recall was due to potential contamination with B. lata, a gram-negative organism that causes opportunistic infection in susceptible individuals.
|
||
AMA Announces Vaccine-specific CPT Codes for Coronavirus ImmunizationsThe American Medical Association released an update to the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) code set that includes new vaccine-specific codes to report immunizations for coronavirus. These new codes will be available for use and will become effective for each new coronavirus vaccine receiving emergency use authorization from the FDA.
|
||
Florida COVID-19 Vaccination PlanThe FPA is reviewing the Florida vaccination plan for COVID-19 released last month. Included within the plan is a phased approach for vaccinating Florida citizens based upon priority groups which may include health care personnel, essential workers, persons with medical conditions that place them at high risk for COVID-19 complications and older adults.
|
||
States Asked to Consider Signing MOU on Pharmacy CompoundingThe Food and Drug Administration has released a revised Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) asking for endorsement by state Boards of Pharmacy. Essentially the MOU creates a consensus understanding that states will investigate and report to the FDA on inordinate amounts of compounded products that are being distributed interstate. The option given to states is to sign the MOU and report on inordinate interstate shipping or elect to not sign the MOU and limit pharmacies to shipping out of state no more than 5% of all prescription orders it dispensed. The revised version of the MOU was modified from what was presented to Florida last year. Our state examined the MOU last year and was advised by the Department of Health General Counsel that Florida laws would make the Department unable to comply with its terms and conditions. It is unknown if there were any changes in the revised version that would change the current position of this state. It is the FPA’s understanding that states have been given up to a year to decide to sign the current MOU agreement.
|
||
FPPC Supported Candidates Win Their ElectionThe Florida Pharmacist Political Committee is pleased to report that nearly all of the campaigns that were supported through your generous contributions were candidates that won their races. There were 120 House seats up for election with 31 of those seats being open (no incumbent). There were 20 Senate seats up for election with 8 being open seats. There was one Senate race that required a recount because the vote was extremely close. In an ordered hand recount for Senate District 37, Ileana Garcia prevailed over Democratic incumbent José Javier Rodríguez in the race by a mere 34 votes. Senator Rodriguez was one of our primary supporters of PBM issues.
OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST Governor DeSantis Extends Executive Order 20-52 – COVID-19 for another 60 days Florida Department of Health Introduces ELI (Enforcement – Licensure – Information)
|
