Christine Jordan Sexton
The Florida Medical Association is championing a bill that would limit an HMO or insurance company’s ability to limit access to pharmaceuticals or other covered services is being heard by its second committee in the Senate this week.
The Senate Health Policy Committee will take up the Right Time Right Place bill, SB 784, when it meets today at 1:30 p.m; it’s the second committee stop for the bill. If approved by the Senate Health Policy Committee, the measure will head to the Appropriations Committee before heading to the Senate floor.
Among other things, the bill establishes a seven-member commission in the Florida Department of Health that is charged with reviewing prior authorization or step therapy or any other protocol that limits at the point of service what a patient can access. The Banking and Insurance Committee already unanimously passed the bill and the bill appears to have wings in the Senate, where it enjoys the support of former President Don Gaetz, the bill sponsor.
As the fourth week of session kicks into gear the House has yet to take up the issue. HB 86 has been referred to two subcommittees — Insurance and Banking and Health Innovation — as well as the Appropriations Committee and the Regulatory Affairs Committee but it hasn’t been heard.
