With pharmacies in some states preparing to dispense abortion pills, Florida’s Agency for Healthcare Administration sent a letter to all state healthcare providers warning them that do so in Florida is illegal. The warning follows the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s early January decision allowing retail pharmacies to stock and dispense abortion pills in states that allow the procedure. Pharmacy chains including Walgreens and CVS both said they plan to get certified to dispense the abortion pill mifepristone in states where allowed. In Florida, abortion is legal up until 15 weeks of gestation. However, state law says only a physician can terminate a pregnancy, not a pharmacist, and it must be done in person after a 24-hour waiting period. Florida is among 18 states where pharmacies are barred from dispensing the drugs either because abortion is illegal or because patients can only get the pills directly from a physician.

Gov. Ron DeSantis, alongside state Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo, spoke at a press conference and stated his intent to work with the state Legislature during the upcoming session to pass a series of laws to “increase transparency” in the statewide pharmaceutical industry. According to the governor, the pieces of legislation will impose a range of regulations and guidelines including, but not limited to, consumer and small business protections and requirements that drug manufacturers must disclose proposed price increases before they take effect. Further, the proposal seeks to enact anti-steering measures, preventing the implementation of a pharmaceutical network that only includes PBM-affiliated pharmacies. It also requires PBMs to disclose all the organizations they are affiliated with, including any pharmacies or companies within their corporate umbrella, and any complaints or settlement agreements they've bene involved in prior to operating in Florida.

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On December 28, 2022, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced seven new appointments to the state Board of Pharmacy. The appointments include Dr. Jonathan Hickman, Daniel Kirk, Dr. Christina Medina, Dr. Jeffrey Mesaros, Jeenu Philip, and Stephen "Ryan" West. Maja Gift, a current Board of Pharmacy member, was also reappointed. All appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

Florida primary winners Shane Abbott and Gallop Franklin have won State House seats in the November election. Abbott, Owner of the The Prescription Place, was appointed House District 5 seat unopposed. Franklin, pharmacist and professor at Florida A&M University College of Pharmacy, was appointed District 8 seat in a 71% to 29% victory over opponent Curt Bender. Congratulations to both pharmacists on their victories!

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has announced a settlement with Walmart. The settlement resolves allegations that Walmart pharmacies distributed and dispensed prescription opioid pain medication improperly, although the settlement also states that Walmart “dispensed many fewer opioids per store and in dosages that were substantially lower than the other major chain pharmacies and independent pharmacies in Florida.” As part of the settlement, Walmart has agreed to pay $215 million, approximately $188 million of which will go to remediate the impact of the opioid crisis in Florida, and also to partner with AG Moody’s office to dispense 672,000 naloxone kits—an opioid antagonist that rapidly reverses the effects of an overdose—to first responders across the state.

Two Florida pharmacists, Shane Abbott and Gallop Franklin, will advance to the November election after winning their primaries for State House seats. Abbott, Owner of The Prescription Place in DeFuniak Springs, is running for the House District 5 seat. Franklin, pharmacist and professor at Florida A&M University’s College of Pharmacy, is running for the House District 8 seat. Best of luck to both pharmacists in their respective elections.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced a new executive order aimed at adding transparency to the role of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in administering prescription drug programs. This order, Order 22-164, will hold PBMs more accountable by requiring state agencies to review their contracts with PBMs to ensure that their costs are justified. The order attempts to address spread pricing and clawbacks, two predatory practices of PBMs. Gov. DeSantis’s order goes into effect immediately.

As of July 1, 2022, Florida pharmacy technicians can seek certification to provide immunizations, including all immunizations approved and under emergency use authorization by the FDA. In order to get certified, techs must complete an approved immunization course and operate under the authority of a pharmacist, physician, or nurse practitioner. This decision marks an important part in expanding both pharmacists’ and pharmacy technicians’ authority.

On June 20, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis passed a new law that puts the Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) in charge of PBMs instead of the Board of Pharmacy. This bill, HB 357, aims to address pitfalls in previous regulations and provide better oversight of PBMs through the OIR. In addition to the change in oversight, HB 357 requires PBMs to register with the state. If they don’t comply, they face a $10,000 fine. HB 357 takes effect July 1, 2022.

The new "Parents' Bill of Rights" is primarily an educational bill, however, there are also requirements listed for health care practitioners - which include pharmacists and pharmacies. The law states that health care practitioners may not provide "health care services" or prescribe medicinal drugs to a minor without obtaining parental consent. This law brings up interesting questions about how strict its interpretation will be and how it might limit the scope of a pharmacist's everyday practice when it comes to assisting potential minors.

SB 768 expands the types of vaccines that can be administered by pharmacists and pharmacy interns. It authorizes any vaccines listed in the federal CDC Adult Immunization Schedule, vaccines recommended by the CDC for international travel, and vaccines licensed for use in the United States or authorized for emergency use by the FDA. This law also authorizes certified pharmacists to administer the flu vaccine to children seven years and older.