SB 182-Relating to Consumer Protection from Non-medical Changes to Prescription Drug Formularies
On Tuesday, February 7th, SB 182, relating to Consumer Protection from Non-medical Changes to Prescription Drug Formularies, by The Honorable Debbie Mayfield (R-Melbourne), was heard by the Senate Committee on Banking and Insurance and passed with a vote of 6 yeas to 1 nay. AIF’s Senior Vice President of State and Federal Affairs, Brewster Bevis, spoke in opposition to this bill.

This bill addresses the ability to move or shift prescription drugs within drug formularies by health plans. Currently, health plans have the authority to move prescription drugs to different tiers within the drug formulary, or add/remove certain drugs all together. Health plans use this system if, for instance, a drug has been found to be unsafe for patients or a more cost efficient alternative has become available. Removing this ability from health plans would not only cause the cost of healthcare to rise but could put patients at risk of taking potentially harmful medications. 

SB 182 will now go to the Senate Committee on Health Policy ,its second of three committee stops.  

AIF OPPOSES taking away the leverage health plans have to add, remove, or shift drugs within the formulary system as it will increase the cost of health care and pharmaceuticals for Florida’s employer community.