March 23, 2015

Tallahassee, Fla. – The Associated Industries of Florida (AIF) today released the following statement attributable to Tamela Perdue, general counsel for AIF, asking members of the Senate Committee on Health Policy to vote down Senate Bill 784, which would change the current, effective method of prior authorization, step edit therapy and protocols.

“This bill, which is being brought forth under the guise of providing the ‘right drugs’ at the ‘right time,’ is only going to be successful at raising the price of prescription medication by forcing insurers and consumers to purchase the most expensive drug treatments, even when equally effective therapies are available at lower costs.

“In addition, this bad public policy will expand the role of government by creating a state-run commission that would dictate how pharmaceuticals and other medical services are made available to consumers.  This is a function that the private sector already performs, and performs well; and, as such, AIF opposes this increased regulation and bureaucratic red tape that this bill would impose.

“We respectfully ask members of the Senate Committee on Health Policy to vote down on SB 784 today and not let this bad policy move forward in the process.”

For more information on AIF, please visit AIF.com and follow @VoiceofFLBiz.

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