News & Press

PHARMACIES AT RISK FOR LOSING TRICARE PATIENTS Express Scripts (ESI) slashed pharmacy reimbursements for 2023 making it impossible for independent community pharmacies to participate in the Tricare pharmacy network. Moreover, ESI has notified TRICARE beneficiaries...

FRAUD ALERT - SCAMMERS TARGETING FLORIDA PHARMACIES Please be aware of a potential scam related to individuals posing as a prescription drug distributor or an agent of the Board of Pharmacy requesting information from you.  The Healthcare Distribution Alliance has...

Pharmacy Benefit Manager Bill Signed Into Law HB357 Approved by Governor DeSantis TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Yesterday, Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 357: Pharmacies and Pharmacy Benefit Managers, sponsored by State Rep. Jackie Toledo (R-Tampa). It was sent to him...

DEADLINE TO FILE COMMENTS TO FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION ON PBMs IS MAY 25TH The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has an opened portal to accept public comments on the pharmacy benefit management market.  This is an opportunity for our stakeholders to share with a federal...

April 19, 2022 COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration Extended The Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra has issued an order extending the public health emergency related to the current pandemic.  The order effective April 16th will...

Test and Treat Signed Into Law Yesterday we saw a number of remarkable things happen.  House bill 389 related to pharmacists ability to test and treat patients for influenza and streptococcus was debated by the Florida Senate and in a spirited discussion approved and...

November 24, 2021 New Clozapine REMS Requirement The Clozapine REMS (Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy) is a safety program required by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to manage the risk of severe neutropenia associated with clozapine treatment.  Members...

February 1, 2021 HHS Likely to Extend Public Health Emergency – The Biden Administration sent letters to the Governors of each state informing them of a likely extension of the public health emergency declaration by the Secretary of Health & Human Services under...

LICENSURE RENEWALS EXTENDED Florida Surgeon General Scott Rivkees issued Emergency Order DOH No. 20-015 that extended licensure renewal deadlines to March 31, 2021.  This primarily will affect pharmacy technicians and pharmacist consultants that are due to renew at...

November 13, 2020  FL Department of Health Action for Health Facilities - TAKE ACTION The Florida Department of Health is looking at a cluster of Burkholderia lata (B. lata) infections and is asking that health care facilities perform a laboratory look back and notify...

Human Trafficking CE Requirement Reminder In 2019 the Florida legislature passed House bill 851 requiring all Florida licensed health care providers to complete a 1 hour CE program on Human Trafficking.  This program must be completed by January 1, 2021 (F.S....

HHS Guidance on Vaccine Administration and COVID-19 Testing On October 21, 2020, the Trump administration released additional guidance on expanding access to vaccines and COVID-19 tests.  The Unites States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued new...

October 2, 2020 Fla Surgeon General Issues Emergency Order on Pharmacist Vaccination of Children In August the Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services issued an an amendment to the Declaration to include as Covered Persons certain licensed...

October 15, 2020 Board Rules on Pharmacist Services on Final Approach This week the Florida Board of Pharmacy met and completed their work in preparation for the final adoption of test and treat rules as well as regulations related to pharmacist collaborative...

September 8, 2020  Florida Board of Pharmacy Advances Rules on Collaborative Practice and Test and Treat The Florida Board of Pharmacy Rules Committee and full board met to review and recommend for adoption of draft rules related to HB389. This legislation signed into...

July 26, 2020 President Trump Issues Executive Orders on Prescription Drug Pricing On Friday, President Donald Trump issued an executive order to pave the way for prescription drug importation from Canada and foreign countries to lower prices. The order directs the...

June 17, 2020 Automated Pharmacy Systems Legislation Sent to Governor DeSantis House bill 59 passed by the Florida House and Senate has been sent to Governor DeSantis for his signature.  This bill changes Florida statutes 465.0235 allowing community pharmacies to use...

STOP REMOTE DISPENSING  CONTACT the GOVERNOR’S OFFICE NOW!!!!   HB 59 that passed during the Regular Session of the Legislature would allow remote dispensing machines in places that are NOT pharmacies. The independent pharmacy community along with the Florida...

Governor DeSantis Extends Emergency Order On Friday, May 8th Governor Ron DeSantis extended his state of emergency order declared on March 9th beginning the path way towards combating the current pandemic. Governor DeSantis also directed the State Surgeon General to...

Florida Board of Pharmacy Adopts Emergency Rule COVID - 19 Resources The Florida Board of Pharmacy met on March 19th to discuss an emergency rule related to inspection requirements of consultant pharmacists to various facilities. There were no other items on their...

ACTION ALERT - PBM Bill on Senate Committee Agenda SB1338 by Senator Wright related to FPA supported provisions on PBM regulations has been placed on the Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services.  This meeting will take place on Tuesday, February...

ACTION ALERT - Test and Treat on Senate Heath Policy Committee and House Health and Human Services Committee Meeting Agendas (Supported by the FPA) SB714 is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Health Policy Committee on Tuesday, February 18th starting at 10:00 am in...