FIC: Scott Getting Newborn Screening Measure

By:  Sam Miller, FIC Consultant The House, by  a 117-0 vote on April 28,completed legislative approval of a bill (CS/CS/SB 1124) expediting  the expansion and updating of Florida’s newborn screening standards as federal standards change. The House on April 27 took up the Senate-passed version (CS/CS/SB 1124) in lieu of its bill. The House passed…

FIC: House, Senate Moving Closer on Medical Marijuana Amendment

By:  Sam Miller, FIC Consultant HB 1397171781 – by RodriguesSB 406 A revised House plan implementing the medical marijuana constitutional amendment drops a 90-day minimum doctor/patient relationship and moves the House much closer to the Senate and a final agreement before the Legislature adjourns May 5. In another concession to the Senate, House members authorized vaporizing and…

FIC: Med Synch Bill Likely to Pass This Year

By:  Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel The full Senate passed the medication synchronization bill on April 27, 2017 with a vote of 36-0.  It will now go to the House for consideration.  Thus, the medication synchronization bills are in a posture to pass this year. The House medication synchronization bill, HB 1191, made it through…

FIC: DMPO Bill Going To Governor

By:  Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel HB 577, a bill designed to update regulation of discount medical plan organizations (DMPOs) is on its way to the Governor for approval.  The bill passed the House on April 20, 2017 and passed the Senate a week later on April 27, 2017.   Discount Medical Plan Organizations (DMPOs)…

FIC: Bill Expedites Newborn Screening Expansion

By: Sam Miller, FIC Consultant The Legislature is nearing final passage of a measure expediting the expansion and updating of Florida’s newborn screening standards as federal standards change. Expanded and updated screening is vital “so we can intervene earlier in the lives of newborns and improve their quality of health,” said Rep. Heather Fitzenhagen, R-Fort…

FIC: Retroactive Denial of Claims Passes Senate

By:  Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel Starting on January 1, 2018, SB 102 prohibits health insurers and HMOs from retroactively denying a claim, if at any time, the insurer or HMO verified the eligibility of an insured or subscriber at the time of treatment and provided an authorization number.  The bill is opposed by the…

FIC: DMPO Bill One Vote Away From Passage

By:  Katrina Callaway, FIC General Counsel HB 577, a bill designed to update regulation of discount medical plan organizations (DMPOs) passed the House on April 20, 2017 and was heard by the Senate on April 26, 2017 when it substituted its bill for the House bill.  The Senate is expected to vote on HB 577…