Pharmacist Technician Bill on Committee Senate Committee Agenda

 

Senate Bill 334 sponsored by Senator Burt Saunders (Rep - Naples, Cape Coral) has been placed on the agenda for consideration by the Senate Health Regulation Committee.  The Committee will be meeting on Wednesday, February 6, 2008 in room 401 of the Senate Office Building.  This bill was place on the agenda of the Health Regulation's previous committee meeting where the bill was completely revised removing all of the language requiring pharmacist technicians to register with the Department of Health and be certified.  The bill was then temporarily postponed until consideration at the scheduled Wednesday meeting.  The only issue now on the bill is a measure to remove the 12 year NAPLEX examination requirement for pharmacists who wish to transfer their licenses to Florida.  If signed into law by Governor Crist pharmacists who wish to transfer their licenses will no longer need to have to take the NAPLEX licensure examination within the last 12 years preceding application.  This bill in its present form is not supported by the Florida Pharmacy Association. 

The House version of the bill HB 275 related to pharmacist technician was work shopped on January 8th in the House Health Quality Committee.  Some Committee members raised concerns that the draft legislation did not go far enough.  If you wish to view the video of the discussions in the committee go to the House Health Quality Committee web page and select the January 8th archived video link.  Some of the provisions in this bill include the following:

A third version of draft pharmacist technician legislation has been filed on the Senate side.  Senate bill 1360 by Senator Durell Peaden (Rep - Crestview) has language supported by both the Florida Pharmacy Association and the Florida Society of Health-System Pharmacists.

 

Bill Filed to Revise Orthotic, Prosthetic and Pedorthic Services

 

The Association has learned that House bill 607 has been filed to revise laws related to Orthotic, Prosthetic and Pedorthic Services.  There are some pharmacy providers that been delivering these services under laws written 1997 that excluded pharmacists from having to register under Florida Statutes 468.  The draft language in the bill appears to remove the exemption in favor of allowing other health care providers deliver Orthotic and Prosthetic (O & P) services if their practice act says so.  The Association will monitor this legislation very closely to see its impact on existing O & P pharmacy providers.

 

House and Senate Bill to Set Standards on Dispensing of
Emergency Contraceptives

Of interest to the members is language in Senate bill 780 and House bill 385. Both these bills if passed into law places obligations on pharmacists to ensure access to emergency contraceptive products. Some of the provisions in these bills include the following:

The legislation does not seem to interfere with a pharmacist’s personal belief on this issue rather it places a legal requirement on the pharmacy to ensure that emergency contraceptive services are provided without any barriers.

Requirements for Log Books for the Sale of Ephedrine Products to be considered by Florida Legislature

 

Senate Bill 1388 has been filed to require retail establishments (including pharmacies) who sell ephedrine and related compounds to maintain purchasing log books.  The bill directs the Department of Health to provide "electronic" log books to retail distributors subject to available funding.  Members need to be aware that there currently are requirements for pharmacies to maintain log books under the Combat Methamphetamine Act.  Members can visit this website link http://www.pharmview.com/index.php?goto=hotline for more information.  There is no House companion bill at this time.  There is however a related public records exemption bill that has been filed.

 

CBO Releases Cost Estimates for Pharmacy Negotiation Bill
(From APhA)

 

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) recently released its cost estimate of the Community Pharmacy Fairness Act of 2007 (H.R. 971). The legislation would create an exemption to antitrust laws to permit independent pharmacies to negotiate collectively with health plans and issuers of health insurance over payment rates and other contract terms. That exemption would apply to negotiations between independent pharmacies and operators of prescription drug plans offered under part D of Medicare. However, the exemption would not apply to most other federal health insurance programs.

CBO estimates that enacting the bill would cost the government $681 million over the next five years; additionally, CBO also estimates that the bill would increase payments for prescription drugs distributed by independent pharmacies by about 1 percent in 2010, when the majority of the contracts affected by the policy would be up for renewal and could be renegotiated.

Governor's Proposed Budget to be released on Thursday, January 31, 2008

 

It is anticipated that the Governor's proposed 2008 - 2009 buget will be released on Thursday, January 31, 2008.  While we are not sure what will be in the proposal FPA advocates are concerned with the budget reduction exercises under way in various state agencies and in particular at our state's universities that we will see some significant changes anticipated in health care funding.  We do know that expansion of the Medicaid reform program is on hold for now.  Florida legislators will be assembling in Tallahassee beginning March 4, 2008.  Their only obligation during the two month session is to pass the spending measures necessary to run the states.  Watch for futher developments in the Stat News.