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FOMA

Interim Committees, Week 7

February 28, 2023

Paul D. Seltzer, DO, Legislative Chair

Stephen R. Winn, ED

Michelle W. Larson, Assoc. ED

Jason D. Winn, Esq.

Summary

The legislature concluded its final week of interim committees in preparation for the 2023 Legislative Session scheduled to begin Tuesday, March 7, 2023. House and Senate committees passed 121 bills over seven weeks and heard numerous presentations from agency heads and other officials. To date, legislators filed a total of 1208 bills. Legislators will file additional bills in the remaining week before the session.

Jason Winn, Esq, Sen. Hooper,

Steve Winn & FOMA Legislative Chair Paul Seltzer, DO

Three key FOMA legislative priorities were passed in committee during the final week of interim meetings. On Monday, February 20, 2023, the Senate Health Policy Committee adopted SB 112, step therapy protocols; SB 298, telehealth practice standards; and SB 230, healthcare practitioner titles and designations. Please see the legislative highlights section below for more information concerning these bills.

The House Health and Human Services Committee held a panel discussion on gender dysphoria and minors. Scot N. Ackerman, M.D., Chair of the Florida Board of Medicine, provided an overview of the rule adopted by the Board of Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine regarding establishing standards of practice for treating gender dysphoria for minors. According to Dr. Akerman, based on expert testimony from experts who opposed and favored the minor gender dysphoria treatment, the boards found that there is no established standard of care, and experts agree there’s a lack of high-quality research. This finding prompted the Board of Medicine and the Board of Osteopathic Medicine to promulgate rules. The allopathic rule will take effect on March 15, and the osteopathic rule will take effect later due to a change to the rule eliminating the clinical research exemption.

In his closing remarks, Chair Fine advised he would file a bill concerning minors and gender-affirming care.

Legislative Highlights

S B 0112 - Step-therapy Protocols (Harrell)

The Senate Health Policy Committee adopted SB 112, step therapy protocols. SB 112 defines the term “serious mental illness” to include certain conditions contained in the DSM-V. It requires the Agency for Health Care Administration to approve drug products for Medicaid recipients for the treatment of serious mental illness without step-therapy prior authorization under certain circumstances.

SB 0230 - Health Care Practitioner Titles and Designations by Harrell

The Senate Health Policy Committee adopted SB 230 relating to healthcare practitioner title designations. SB230 specifies which titles and abbreviations health care practitioners may use for advertisements, communications, and personal identification. Healthcare practitioners must disclose specified information and use only authorized titles and abbreviations in their advertisements.

SB 0298 - Telehealth Practice Standards by Boyd

The Senate Health Policy Committee adopted SB 298 relating to Telehealth. SB 298 amends the definition of Telehealth to include audio-only telephone calls.

Bill Tracking Report

In the News

Over-the-counter Narcan will save lives, experts say. But the cost will affect access

A drug used to reverse opioid overdoses could soon be sold over the counter. A committee of advisers to the Food and Drug Administration this week voted unanimously in favor of making Narcan, a nasal-spray version of the generic drug naloxone, available without a prescription.

Lawmaker eyes Medicaid managed-care program for people with developmental disabilities

A House Republican has filed a proposal that would create a pilot program to provide Medicaid managed-care services to people with developmental disabilities. State Rep. Wyman Duggan of Jacksonville on Wednesday filed the proposal (HB 831) for consideration during the legislative session that will start March 7.

Flu vaccine worked well in season that faded fast, CDC says

The vaccines were more than 40% effective in preventing adults from getting sick enough from the flu that they had to go to a doctor's office, clinic or hospital, health. Officials generally are pleased if a flu vaccine is 40% to 60% effective.

Feds seek to limit telehealth prescriptions for ADHD drugs, painkillers

The Biden administration moved Friday to require patients see a doctor in person before getting attention deficit disorder medication or addictive painkillers, toughening access to the drugs against the backdrop of a deepening opioid crisis. The proposal could overhaul the way millions of Americans get some prescriptions after three years of relying on telehealth for doctor's appointments by computer or phone during the pandemic.