Florida Insurance Council - Covering Florida Since 1962
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel The health insurance industry, the pharmacy industry and pharmacy benefit managers finally agreed to language for the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) bill after weeks of negotiating. The agreed upon language was added to the Senate bill, SB 1494 via a strike all amendment (#167480) adopted by the Senate…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel A more limited retroactive denial of claims bill, HB 217, started moving in the House on January 30, 2018 when it passed its first subcommittee, the House Health Innovation Subcommittee, with a strike all amendment (#707915). The bill has two committee stops left. The vote on the bill…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel This week, each chamber moved its step therapy/prior authorization bill putting it closer to passage if a compromise on the bill language can be made. The House bill (HB 199), which is preferred by health plans, passed its second committee on January 30, 2018 and has one committee…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel The Senate telehealth bill, SB 280, passed its second committee on January 30, 2018 without amendment. The bill has two committee stops left. SB 280 defines telehealth and specifies what types of Florida licensed health care providers can provide telehealth. Parameters for telehealth services, including standard of care, prescribing…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel On January 30, 2018, the Senate Health Policy Committee passed SB 492, the any willing pharmacy/mail order bill without amendment. The bill has one committee stop left. The House companion bill, HB 289, has passed its first committee and has two committees left. For individual, group, and HMO health…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel On January 25, 2018, the full House passed its direct primary care bill, HB 37, by a vote of 97-10 and sent the bill to the Senate for consideration. Although all of the “no” votes were cast by Democrats, most of the Democrats voted for the bill. A…
By: Greenberg Traurig The Senate Appropriations Committee passed the Senate opioid bill during its meeting on January 24, 2018. Following is a recap of the meeting prepared by staff at Greenberg Traurig: SB 8 Controlled Substances by Sen. Benacquisto (Passed) SummarySen. Benacquisto stated that this bill makes a number of changes to Florida Statutes. This bill does…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel The full Senate is expected to pass its step therapy and prior authorization bill, SB 98, during its next sitting, on January 31, 2018. The Senate heard the bill on the floor for the first time on January 24, 2018 and adopted one amendment to it. The…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel A direct primary care bill has been filed for the past four years. This year’s House bill, HB 37, is essentially the same bill as last year and is again sponsored by Rep. Burgess, Chair of the House Insurance and Banking Subcommittee. HB 37 specifies that a direct…
By: Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel The Senate Health Policy Committee passed SB 162 during its meeting on January 23, 2018 with no amendments, questions or debate. The bill has one committee left. The bill prohibits a health insurer or health maintenance organization (HMO) from retroactively denying a claim if the insurer or HMO verified the…