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CRT 2024 Legislative
Update - Week 6
February 16, 2024
Paul D. Seltzer, DO, Legislative Chair
Stephen R. Winn, ED
Michelle W. Larson, Assoc. ED
Jason D. Winn, Esq.
| | With three weeks remaining in the session, the stakes increase, and committees begin wrapping up their work for 2024. As bills wither on the vine, the political gamesmanship intensifies as legislators search for other opportunities to amend their stalled legislative priorities onto other bills. Budget negotiations will soon dominate the legislative landscape as the House and Senate work to reconcile their difference in the budget conference and pass the FY 2024-25 General Appropriations Act. | | Sen. Ana Rodriguez, Monty Trainer & Steve Winn - Paella Day at the Capitol | | |
This week, several health care bills passed their final committees, positioning the legislation for consideration by the Senate or House next week. CRT Bills of interest adopted this week include HB 0159 HIV Prevention Drugs and HB 0201 Emergency Refills of Insulin.
HB 1431 concerning international drug reference pricing has not moved in committee since its initial hearing on January 22, 2024. Although the Select Committee on Health Innovation passed the measure, the bill has two remaining referenced committees, the House Appropriations Committee and the House Health & Human Services Committee. The Senate companion, SB 1750 by Gruters, has yet to be heard by any of its referenced committees.
The FOMA continues monitoring the process for amendments on this issue as committees close and we wind down toward the closing days of the session.
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The Live Healthy Initiative moved a step closer in the House, unanimously passing HB 1549 out of its final referenced committee, the House Health & Human Services Committee. HB 1549 and its companion, SB 7016, are on the House Special Order Calendar for Wednesday, February 21, 2024.
Like the Senate companion, HB 1549 revises and establishes policy relating to the state's healthcare workforce, healthcare services, healthcare practitioner licensure, and regulation, healthcare facility licensure and regulation, the Medicaid program, and health-care-related education programs. The bill also provides that Florida will enter the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact.
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HB 0159 HIV Prevention Drugs by Franklin II
The House Health & Human Services Committee amended and unanimously passed HB 159. The bill is on the House Special Order Calendar for Wednesday, February 21, 2024.
HB 159 allows licensed pharmacists to screen adults for HIV exposure and provide the results of such screening. A pharmacist who has screened a patient for HIV must advise the patient to seek further medical consultation or treatment from a physician. HB 159 also establishes a process by which a pharmacist may become certified to order and dispense postexposure prophylaxis under a collaborative practice agreement with a physician.
The Senate Companion, SB 1320, has one committee stop remaining, the Senate Rules Committee.
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HB 0201 Emergency Refills of Insulin and Insulin-related Supplies or Equipment by Rodriguez
On February 15, 2024, the House of Representatives unanimously passed HB 201 concerning emergency insulin refills. HB 201 eliminates the one-vial limit on emergency insulin refills and expands the current law on emergency insulin refills to include related supplies and equipment. Under the measure, if unable to obtain a prescriber authorization, a pharmacist may dispense, up to three nonconsecutive times per calendar year, an emergency refill of insulin and insulin-related supplies or equipment to treat diabetes.
The identical Senate Companion, SB 516, has one committee stop remaining, the Senate Rules Committee.
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$717 million health care access bill clears its final House committee | The measure, a priority of Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, next heads to the House floor. The Senate version has already passed. | | | |
Florida's Medicaid enrollment numbers dip below 4.8 million in January | The state Agency for Health Care Administration website reports that 4.79 million people were enrolled in January, down from 4.86 million in December. | | | |
DeSantis, first lady call on the Legislature for more cancer research funding | Gov. Ron DeSantis called on the Legislature to allocate $230 million to cancer-centered initiatives championed by his wife, Casey, a breast cancer survivor. | | | |
States target health insurers' 'prior authorization' red tape | Doctors, patients and hospitals have railed for years about processes that insurers use to decide whether they'll pay for drugs or procedures. The Biden administration announced a crackdown in January, but some state lawmakers are looking to go further. | | | | | | |
