ACTION ALERT – PBM Bill on Senate Committee AgendaSB1338 by Senator Wright related to FPA supported provisions on PBM regulations has been placed on the Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services. This meeting will take place on Tuesday, February 25, 2020 at 1:00 pm in the Knott Building. This legislation includes a number of items such as transferring regulation of PBMs from the Board of Pharmacy to the Office of Insurance regulations, requiring PBMs to pass through generic rebates to an insurer or HMO and increasing PBM transparency by requiring the submission of an annual report regarding rebates and other information. Members are encouraged to contact members of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services and ask for their support of SB1338.
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ACTION ALERT – Test and Treat bill on Senate Committee AgendaSB714 by Senator Hutson and supported by the FPA has also been placed on the Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services which will be meeting on Tuesday, February 5th. In the previous committee hearing the bill was amended removing the ability for pharmacists to test for streptococcus and also inserted a number of provisions that gave the medical boards regulatory authority. While the FPA is in support of the bill there are a number of changes that need to be addressed to bring the bill in alignment with the more favorable House version. Members are encouraged to contact members of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services and ask for their support of SB1338 and to support any changes endorsed by the Senate sponsor.
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ACTION ALERT- Collaborative Practice bill on Senate Committee AgendaSB1094 by Senator Diaz and supported by the FPA allows for consultant pharmacists to engage in collaborative practice agreements in institutional settings. This bill has been placed on the Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services on Tuesday, February 25, 2020 at 1:00 pm in the Knott Building. The House version has passed all its committees and passed the floor of the House. The Senate version has 2 more committees to go.
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ACTION ALERT – Automated Pharmacy Systems Bill on Rules Committee AgendaSB708 sponsored by Senator Hutson has moved to its final committee meeting agenda on Wednesday, February 26, 2020 at 9:00 AM in room 110 of the Senate Office Building. The House version was found favorable last week in its last committee hearing and picked up some amendments that addressed some of the FPA’s concerns however this proposed legislation still needs more work. SB708 and its House companion are not supported by the FPA. While the bill in a previous Senate committee meeting took on an FPA supported amendment restricting the deploying of automated systems inside a community pharmacy or inside the establishment of a community pharmacy we still have other concerns such as whether the legislation will allow for PBMs to use these systems to comply with network access standards and whether there are any safety standards that need to be met. Members are encouraged to reach out to Senator Hutson and also to members of the Senate Rules Committee and express your concerns with this legislation.
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Supreme Court Arguments on PBM Legislation to be heard on April 27, 2020The FPA has signed on in support of case being reviewed by the US Supreme Court on whether states have the ability to regulate PBMs. This case is being driven by action taken by the State of Arkansas where the lower courts have ruled that states did not have the authority to regulate ERISA plans related to employee benefits.
Deadline for Award Nominations Each year the Florida Pharmacy Association recognizes those members who are active in their communities and go above and beyond to support the profession, the patients that they serve and our society. They are presented at the annual meeting during our awards event and honored for their commitment and hard work. We ask our members to help us identify those individuals who should be considered to be an award recipient so that we can salute their accomplishments. The awards nomination deadline is Saturday, February 29, 2020. |
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Florida Pharmacist to Run for APhA Office
The American Pharmacist Association has announced their slate of candidates for their 2020 election. Brevard County pharmacist and University of Florida graduate Theresa Tolle has been slated to run for President Elect of APhA. Theresa will be running against Valerie Prince of Springville, Alabama. APhA election and candidate information will be available online in early-March.
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