Florida 2025 Regular Session

Florida House Bill H0899 Latest Draft

Bill / Introduced Version Filed 02/21/2025

                               
 
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A bill to be entitled 1 
An act relating to insurer disclosures on prescription 2 
drug coverage; creating s. 627.42394, F.S.; requiring 3 
individual and group health insurers to provide notice 4 
of prescription drug formulary changes within a 5 
certain timeframe to current and prospective insureds 6 
and the insureds' treating physicians; specifying 7 
requirements for the content of such notice and the 8 
manner in which it must be provided; specifying 9 
requirements for a notice of medical necessity 10 
submitted by the treating physician; authorizing 11 
insurers to provide certain means for submitting the 12 
notice of medical necessity; requiring the Financial 13 
Services Commission to adopt a certain form by rule by 14 
a specified date; specifying a coverage requirement 15 
and restrictions on coverage modification b y insurers 16 
receiving a notice of medical necessity; providing 17 
construction and applicability; requiring insurers to 18 
maintain a record of formulary changes; requiring 19 
insurers to annually submit a specified report to the 20 
Office of Insurance Regulation by a specified date; 21 
requiring the office to annually compile certain data 22 
and prepare a report, make the report publicly 23 
accessible on its website, and submit the report to 24 
the Governor and the Legislature by a specified date; 25     
 
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creating s. 627.6383, F.S.; defin ing the term "cost-26 
sharing requirement"; requiring specified individual 27 
health insurers and their pharmacy benefit managers to 28 
apply payments for prescription drugs by or on behalf 29 
of insureds toward the total contributions of the 30 
insureds' cost-sharing requirements under certain 31 
circumstances; providing construction; requiring 32 
specified individual health insurers to maintain 33 
records of certain third -party payments for 34 
prescription drugs; providing reporting requirements; 35 
providing requirements for the repo rts; providing 36 
applicability; amending s. 627.6385, F.S.; providing 37 
disclosure requirements; providing applicability; 38 
amending s. 627.64741, F.S.; requiring specified 39 
contracts to require pharmacy benefit managers to 40 
apply payments by or on behalf of insur eds toward the 41 
insureds' total contributions to cost -sharing 42 
requirements; providing applicability; providing 43 
disclosure requirements; creating s. 627.65715, F.S.; 44 
defining the term "cost -sharing requirement"; 45 
requiring specified group health insurers and their 46 
pharmacy benefit managers to apply payments for 47 
prescription drugs by or on behalf of insureds toward 48 
the total contributions of the insureds' cost -sharing 49 
requirements under certain circumstances; providing 50     
 
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construction; providing disclosure require ments; 51 
requiring specified group health insurers to maintain 52 
records of certain third -party payments for 53 
prescription drugs; providing reporting requirements; 54 
providing requirements for the reports; providing 55 
applicability; amending s. 627.6572, F.S.; requ iring 56 
specified contracts to require pharmacy benefit 57 
managers to apply payments by or on behalf of insureds 58 
toward the insureds' total contributions to cost -59 
sharing requirements; providing applicability; 60 
providing disclosure requirements; amending s. 61 
627.6699, F.S.; requiring small employer carriers to 62 
comply with certain requirements for prescription drug 63 
formulary changes; amending s. 641.31, F.S.; providing 64 
an exception to requirements relating to changes in a 65 
health maintenance organization's group con tract; 66 
requiring health maintenance organizations to provide 67 
notice of prescription drug formulary changes within a 68 
certain timeframe to current and prospective 69 
subscribers and the subscribers' treating physicians; 70 
specifying requirements for the content o f such notice 71 
and the manner in which it must be provided; 72 
specifying requirements for a notice of medical 73 
necessity submitted by the treating physician; 74 
authorizing health maintenance organizations to 75     
 
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provide certain means for submitting the notice of 76 
medical necessity; requiring the commission to adopt a 77 
certain form by rule by a specified date; specifying a 78 
coverage requirement and restrictions on coverage 79 
modification by health maintenance organizations 80 
receiving a notice of medical necessity; providing 81 
construction and applicability; requiring health 82 
maintenance organizations to maintain a record of 83 
formulary changes; requiring health maintenance 84 
organizations to annually submit a specified report to 85 
the office by a specified date; requiring the office 86 
to annually compile certain data and prepare a report, 87 
make the report publicly accessible on its website, 88 
and submit the report to the Governor and the 89 
Legislature by a specified date; defining the term 90 
"cost-sharing requirement"; requiring specified heal th 91 
maintenance organizations and their pharmacy benefit 92 
managers to apply payments for prescription drugs by 93 
or on behalf of subscribers toward the total 94 
contributions of the subscribers' cost -sharing 95 
requirements under certain circumstances; providing 96 
construction; providing disclosure requirements; 97 
requiring specified health maintenance organizations 98 
to maintain records of certain third -party payments 99 
for prescription drugs; providing reporting 100     
 
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requirements; providing requirements for the reports; 101 
providing applicability; amending s. 641.314, F.S.; 102 
requiring specified contracts to require pharmacy 103 
benefit managers to apply payments by or on behalf of 104 
subscribers toward the subscribers' total 105 
contributions to cost -sharing requirements; providing 106 
applicability; providing disclosure requirements; 107 
amending s. 409.967, F.S.; conforming a cross -108 
reference; amending s. 641.185, F.S.; conforming a 109 
provision to changes made by the act; providing 110 
applicability; providing a declaration of important 111 
state interest; prov iding an effective date. 112 
 113 
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 114 
 115 
 Section 1.  Section 627.42394, Florida Statutes, is created 116 
to read: 117 
 627.42394  Health insurance policies; changes to 118 
prescription drug formularies; requirements. — 119 
 (1)  At least 60 days before the effective date of any 120 
change to a prescription drug formulary during a policy year, an 121 
insurer issuing individual or group health insurance policies in 122 
the state shall notify: 123 
 (a)  Current and prospective insureds of the change in the 124 
formulary in a readily accessible format on the insurer's 125     
 
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website; and 126 
 (b)  Any insured currently receiving coverage for a 127 
prescription drug for which the formulary change modifies 128 
coverage and the insured's treating physician. Such notific ation 129 
must be sent electronically and by first -class mail and must 130 
include information on the specific drugs involved and a 131 
statement that the submission of a notice of medical necessity 132 
by the insured's treating physician to the insurer at least 30 133 
days before the effective date of the formulary change will 134 
result in continuation of coverage at the existing level. 135 
 (2)  The notice provided by the treating physician to the 136 
insurer must include a completed one -page form in which the 137 
treating physician certif ies to the insurer that the 138 
prescription drug for the insured is medically necessary as 139 
defined in s. 627.732(2). The treating physician shall submit 140 
the notice electronically or by first -class mail. The insurer 141 
may provide the treating physician with acce ss to an electronic 142 
portal through which the treating physician may electronically 143 
submit the notice. By January 1, 2026, the commission shall 144 
adopt by rule a form for the notice. 145 
 (3)  If the treating physician certifies to the insurer in 146 
accordance with subsection (2) that the prescription drug is 147 
medically necessary for the insured, the insurer: 148 
 (a)  Must authorize coverage for the prescribed drug until 149 
the end of the policy year, based solely on the treating 150     
 
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physician's certification that the drug is m edically necessary; 151 
and 152 
 (b)  May not modify the coverage related to the covered 153 
drug during the policy year by: 154 
 1.  Increasing the out -of-pocket costs for the covered 155 
drug; 156 
 2.  Moving the covered drug to a more restrictive tier; 157 
 3.  Denying an insured coverage of the drug for which the 158 
insured has been previously approved for coverage by the 159 
insurer; or 160 
 4.  Limiting or reducing coverage of the drug in any other 161 
way, including subjecting it to a new prior authorization or 162 
step-therapy requirement. 163 
 (4)  Subsections (1), (2), and (3) do not: 164 
 (a)  Prohibit the addition of prescription drugs to the 165 
list of drugs covered under the policy during the policy year. 166 
 (b)  Apply to a grandfathered health plan as defined in s. 167 
627.402 or to benefits specified in s . 627.6513(1)-(14). 168 
 (c)  Alter or amend s. 465.025, which provides conditions 169 
under which a pharmacist may substitute a generically equivalent 170 
drug product for a brand name drug product. 171 
 (d)  Alter or amend s. 465.0252, which provides conditions 172 
under which a pharmacist may dispense a substitute biological 173 
product for the prescribed biological product. 174 
 (e)  Apply to a Medicaid managed care plan under part IV of 175     
 
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chapter 409. 176 
 (5)  A health insurer shall maintain a record of any change 177 
in its formulary dur ing a calendar year. By March 1 of each 178 
year, a health insurer shall submit to the office a report 179 
delineating such changes made in the previous calendar year. The 180 
annual report must include, at a minimum: 181 
 (a)  A list of all drugs removed from the formula ry, along 182 
with the date of the removal and the reasons for the removal. 183 
 (b)  A list of all drugs moved to a tier resulting in 184 
additional out-of-pocket costs to insureds. 185 
 (c)  The number of insureds impacted by a change in the 186 
formulary. 187 
 (d)  The number of insureds notified by the insurer of a 188 
change in the formulary. 189 
 (e)  The increased cost, by dollar amount, incurred by 190 
insureds because of such change in the formulary. 191 
 (6)  By May 1 of each year, the office shall: 192 
 (a)  Compile the data in the annual reports submitted by 193 
health insurers under subsection (5) and prepare a report 194 
summarizing the data submitted. 195 
 (b)  Make the report publicly accessible on its website. 196 
 (c)  Submit the report to the Governor, the President of 197 
the Senate, and the Speaker o f the House of Representatives. 198 
 Section 2.  Section 627.6383, Florida Statutes, is created 199 
to read: 200     
 
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 627.6383  Cost-sharing requirements. — 201 
 (1)  As used in this section, the term "cost -sharing 202 
requirement" means a dollar limit, a deductible, a copayment , 203 
coinsurance, or any other out -of-pocket expense imposed on an 204 
insured, including, but not limited to, the annual limitation on 205 
cost sharing subject to 42 U.S.C. s. 18022. 206 
 (2)(a)  Each health insurer issuing, delivering, or 207 
renewing a policy in this stat e which provides prescription drug 208 
coverage, or each pharmacy benefit manager on behalf of such 209 
health insurer, shall apply any amount paid for a prescription 210 
drug by an insured or by another person on behalf of the insured 211 
toward the insured's total contr ibution to any cost-sharing 212 
requirement, if the prescription drug: 213 
 1.  Does not have a generic equivalent; or 214 
 2.  Has a generic equivalent and the insured has obtained 215 
authorization for the prescription drug through any of the 216 
following: 217 
 a.  Prior authorization from the health insurer or pharmacy 218 
benefit manager. 219 
 b.  A step-therapy protocol. 220 
 c.  The exception or appeal process of the health insurer 221 
or pharmacy benefit manager. 222 
 (b)  The amount paid by or on behalf of the insured which 223 
is applied toward the insured's total contribution to any cost -224 
sharing requirement under paragraph (a) includes, but is not 225     
 
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limited to, any payment with or any discount through financial 226 
assistance, a manufacturer copay card, a product voucher, or any 227 
other reduction in ou t-of-pocket expenses made by or on behalf 228 
of the insured for a prescription drug. 229 
 (c)1.  Each health insurer issuing, delivering, or renewing 230 
a policy in this state which provides prescription drug 231 
coverage, regardless of whether the prescription drug benefits 232 
are administered or managed by the insurer or by a pharmacy 233 
benefit manager on behalf of the insurer, shall maintain a 234 
record of any third-party payments, made or remitted on behalf 235 
of an insured, for prescription drugs, which are not applied to 236 
the insured's out-of-pocket obligations, including, but not 237 
limited to, deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance. 238 
 2.  By March 1 of each year, each health insurer issuing, 239 
delivering, or renewing a policy in this state which provides 240 
prescription drug cover age, regardless of whether the 241 
prescription drug benefits are administered or managed by the 242 
insurer or by a pharmacy benefit manager on behalf of the 243 
insurer, shall submit to the office a report delineating third -244 
party payments, as described in subparagra ph 1., which were 245 
received in the previous calendar year. The annual report must 246 
include, at a minimum: 247 
 a.  A list of all payments received by the health insurer, 248 
as described in subparagraph 1., made or remitted by a third 249 
party, which must include: 250     
 
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 (I) The date each payment was made. 251 
 (II)  The prescription drug for which the payment was made. 252 
 (III)  The reason that the payment was not applied to the 253 
insured's out-of-pocket obligations. 254 
 b.  The total amount of payments received by the health 255 
insurer which were not applied to an insured's out -of-pocket 256 
maximum. 257 
 c.  The total number of insureds for which a payment was 258 
made which was not applied to an out -of-pocket maximum. 259 
 d.  Whether such payments were returned to the third party 260 
who submitted the pa yment. 261 
 e.  The total amount of payments which were not returned to 262 
the third party who submitted the payment. 263 
 (3)  This section applies to any health insurance policy 264 
issued, delivered, or renewed in this state on or after January 265 
1, 2026. 266 
 Section 3.  Subsections (2) and (3) of section 627.6385, 267 
Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (3) and (4), 268 
respectively, present subsection (2) of that section is amended, 269 
and a new subsection (2) is added to that section, to read: 270 
 627.6385  Disclosures t o policyholders; calculations of 271 
cost sharing.— 272 
 (2)  Each health insurer issuing, delivering, or renewing a 273 
policy in this state which provides prescription drug coverage, 274 
regardless of whether the prescription drug benefits are 275     
 
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administered or managed by the health insurer or by a pharmacy 276 
benefit manager on behalf of the health insurer, shall disclose 277 
on its website that any amount paid by a policyholder or by 278 
another person on behalf of the policyholder must be applied 279 
toward the policyholder's total co ntribution to any cost -sharing 280 
requirement pursuant to s. 627.6383. This subsection applies to 281 
any policy issued, delivered, or renewed in this state on or 282 
after January 1, 2026. 283 
 (3)(2) Each health insurer shall include in every policy 284 
delivered or issued for delivery to any person in this the state 285 
or in materials provided as required by s. 627.64725 a notice 286 
that the information required by this section is available 287 
electronically and the website address of the website where the 288 
information can be acces sed. In addition, each health insurer 289 
issuing, delivering, or renewing a policy in this state which 290 
provides prescription drug coverage, regardless of whether the 291 
prescription drug benefits are administered or managed by the 292 
health insurer or by a pharmacy benefit manager on behalf of the 293 
health insurer, shall disclose in every policy that is issued, 294 
delivered, or renewed to any person in this state on or after 295 
January 1, 2026, that any amount paid by a policyholder or by 296 
another person on behalf of the pol icyholder must be applied 297 
toward the policyholder's total contribution to any cost -sharing 298 
requirement pursuant to s. 627.6383. 299 
 Section 4.  Paragraph (c) is added to subsection (2) of 300     
 
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section 627.64741, Florida Statutes, to read: 301 
 627.64741  Pharmacy be nefit manager contracts. — 302 
 (2)  In addition to the requirements of part VII of chapter 303 
626, a contract between a health insurer and a pharmacy benefit 304 
manager must require that the pharmacy benefit manager: 305 
 (c)1.  Apply any amount paid by an insured or by another 306 
person on behalf of the insured toward the insured's total 307 
contribution to any cost -sharing requirement pursuant to s. 308 
627.6383. This subparagraph applies to any insured whose 309 
insurance policy is issued, delivered, or renewed in this state 310 
on or after January 1, 2026. 311 
 2.  Disclose to every insured whose insurance policy is 312 
issued, delivered, or renewed in this state on or after January 313 
1, 2026, that the pharmacy benefit manager shall apply any 314 
amount paid by the insured or by another person on beh alf of the 315 
insured toward the insured's total contribution to any cost -316 
sharing requirement pursuant to s. 627.6383. 317 
 Section 5.  Section 627.65715, Florida Statutes, is created 318 
to read: 319 
 627.65715  Cost-sharing requirements. — 320 
 (1)  As used in this sectio n, the term "cost-sharing 321 
requirement" means a dollar limit, a deductible, a copayment, 322 
coinsurance, or any other out -of-pocket expense imposed on an 323 
insured, including, but not limited to, the annual limitation on 324 
cost sharing subject to 42 U.S.C. s. 1802 2. 325     
 
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 (2)(a)  Each insurer issuing, delivering, or renewing a 326 
policy in this state which provides prescription drug coverage, 327 
or each pharmacy benefit manager on behalf of such insurer, 328 
shall apply any amount paid for a prescription drug by an 329 
insured or by another person on behalf of the insured toward the 330 
insured's total contribution to any cost -sharing requirement, if 331 
the prescription drug: 332 
 1.  Does not have a generic equivalent; or 333 
 2.  Has a generic equivalent and the insured has obtained 334 
authorization for the prescription drug through any of the 335 
following: 336 
 a.  Prior authorization from the health insurer or pharmacy 337 
benefit manager. 338 
 b.  A step-therapy protocol. 339 
 c.  The exception or appeal process of the health insurer 340 
or pharmacy benefit manager. 341 
 (b) The amount paid by or on behalf of the insured which 342 
is applied toward the insured's total contribution to any cost -343 
sharing requirement under paragraph (a) includes, but is not 344 
limited to, any payment with or any discount through financial 345 
assistance, a manufacturer copay card, a product voucher, or any 346 
other reduction in out -of-pocket expenses made by or on behalf 347 
of the insured for a prescription drug. 348 
 (3)(a)  Each insurer issuing, delivering, or renewing a 349 
policy in this state which provides prescript ion drug coverage, 350     
 
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regardless of whether the prescription drug benefits are 351 
administered or managed by the insurer or by a pharmacy benefit 352 
manager on behalf of the insurer, shall disclose on its website 353 
and in every policy issued, delivered, or renewed in this state 354 
on or after January 1, 2026, that any amount paid by an insured 355 
or by another person on behalf of the insured must be applied 356 
toward the insured's total contribution to any cost -sharing 357 
requirement. 358 
 (b)1.  Each health insurer issuing, delivering, or renewing 359 
a policy in this state which provides prescription drug 360 
coverage, regardless of whether the prescription drug benefits 361 
are administered or managed by the insurer or by a pharmacy 362 
benefit manager on behalf of the insurer, shall maint ain a 363 
record of any third-party payments, made or remitted on behalf 364 
of an insured, for prescription drugs, which are not applied to 365 
the insured's out-of-pocket obligations, including, but not 366 
limited to, deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance. 367 
 2.  By March 1 of each year, each health insurer issuing, 368 
delivering, or renewing a policy in this state which provides 369 
prescription drug coverage, regardless of whether the 370 
prescription drug benefits are administered or managed by the 371 
insurer or by a pharmacy bene fit manager on behalf of the 372 
insurer, shall submit to the office a report delineating third -373 
party payments, as described in subparagraph 1., which were 374 
received in the previous calendar year. The annual report must 375     
 
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include, at a minimum: 376 
 a.  A list of all payments received by the health insurer, 377 
as described in subparagraph 1., made or remitted by a third 378 
party, which must include: 379 
 (I)  The date each payment was made. 380 
 (II)  The prescription drug for which the payment was made. 381 
 (III)  The reason that the payment was not applied to the 382 
insured's out-of-pocket obligations. 383 
 b.  The total amount of payments received by the health 384 
insurer which were not applied to an insured's out -of-pocket 385 
maximum. 386 
 c.  The total number of insureds for which a payment was 387 
made which was not applied to an out -of-pocket maximum. 388 
 d.  Whether such payments were returned to the third party 389 
who submitted the payment. 390 
 e.  The total amount of payments which were not returned to 391 
the third party who submitted the payment. 392 
 (4)  This section applies to any group health insurance 393 
policy issued, delivered, or renewed in this state on or after 394 
January 1, 2026. 395 
 Section 6.  Paragraph (c) is added to subsection (2) of 396 
section 627.6572, Florida Statutes, to read: 397 
 627.6572  Pharmacy bene fit manager contracts. — 398 
 (2)  In addition to the requirements of part VII of chapter 399 
626, a contract between a health insurer and a pharmacy benefit 400     
 
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manager must require that the pharmacy benefit manager: 401 
 (c)1.  Apply any amount paid by an insured or by a nother 402 
person on behalf of the insured toward the insured's total 403 
contribution to any cost -sharing requirement pursuant to s. 404 
627.65715. This subparagraph applies to any insured whose 405 
insurance policy is issued, delivered, or renewed in this state 406 
on or after January 1, 2026. 407 
 2.  Disclose to every insured whose insurance policy is 408 
issued, delivered, or renewed in this state on or after January 409 
1, 2026, that the pharmacy benefit manager shall apply any 410 
amount paid by the insured or by another person on beha lf of the 411 
insured toward the insured's total contribution to any cost -412 
sharing requirement pursuant to s. 627.65715. 413 
 Section 7.  Paragraph (e) of subsection (5) of section 414 
627.6699, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 415 
 627.6699  Employee Health Care Ac cess Act.— 416 
 (5)  AVAILABILITY OF COVERAGE. — 417 
 (e)  All health benefit plans issued under this section 418 
must comply with the following conditions: 419 
 1.  For employers who have fewer than two employees, a late 420 
enrollee may be excluded from coverage for no longe r than 24 421 
months if he or she was not covered by creditable coverage 422 
continually to a date not more than 63 days before the effective 423 
date of his or her new coverage. 424 
 2.  Any requirement used by a small employer carrier in 425     
 
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determining whether to provide c overage to a small employer 426 
group, including requirements for minimum participation of 427 
eligible employees and minimum employer contributions, must be 428 
applied uniformly among all small employer groups having the 429 
same number of eligible employees applying fo r coverage or 430 
receiving coverage from the small employer carrier, except that 431 
a small employer carrier that participates in, administers, or 432 
issues health benefits pursuant to s. 381.0406 which do not 433 
include a preexisting condition exclusion may require a s a 434 
condition of offering such benefits that the employer has had no 435 
health insurance coverage for its employees for a period of at 436 
least 6 months. A small employer carrier may vary application of 437 
minimum participation requirements and minimum employer 438 
contribution requirements only by the size of the small employer 439 
group. 440 
 3.  In applying minimum participation requirements with 441 
respect to a small employer, a small employer carrier may shall 442 
not consider as an eligible employee employees or dependents who 443 
have qualifying existing coverage in an employer -based group 444 
insurance plan or an ERISA qualified self -insurance plan in 445 
determining whether the applicable percentage of participation 446 
is met. However, a small employer carrier may count eligible 447 
employees and dependents who have coverage under another health 448 
plan that is sponsored by that employer. 449 
 4.  A small employer carrier may shall not increase any 450     
 
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requirement for minimum employee participation or any 451 
requirement for minimum employer contribution applic able to a 452 
small employer at any time after the small employer has been 453 
accepted for coverage, unless the employer size has changed, in 454 
which case the small employer carrier may apply the requirements 455 
that are applicable to the new group size. 456 
 5.  If a small employer carrier offers coverage to a small 457 
employer, it must offer coverage to all the small employer's 458 
eligible employees and their dependents. A small employer 459 
carrier may not offer coverage limited to certain persons in a 460 
group or to part of a group , except with respect to late 461 
enrollees. 462 
 6.  A small employer carrier may not modify any health 463 
benefit plan issued to a small employer with respect to a small 464 
employer or any eligible employee or dependent through riders, 465 
endorsements, or otherwise to re strict or exclude coverage for 466 
certain diseases or medical conditions otherwise covered by the 467 
health benefit plan. 468 
 7.  An initial enrollment period of at least 30 days must 469 
be provided. An annual 30 -day open enrollment period must be 470 
offered to each smal l employer's eligible employees and their 471 
dependents. A small employer carrier must provide special 472 
enrollment periods as required by s. 627.65615. 473 
 8.  A small employer carrier shall comply with s. 627.65715 474 
for any change to a prescription drug formulary . 475     
 
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 Section 8.  Subsection (36) of section 641.31, Florida 476 
Statutes, is amended, and subsection (48) is added to that 477 
section, to read: 478 
 641.31  Health maintenance contracts. — 479 
 (36)  Except as provided in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c), a 480 
health maintenance organization may increase the copayment for 481 
any benefit, or delete, amend, or limit any of the benefits to 482 
which a subscriber is entitled under the group contract only, 483 
upon written notice to the contract holder at least 45 days in 484 
advance of the time of coverage renewal. The health maintenance 485 
organization may amend the contract with the contract holder, 486 
with such amendment to be effective immediately at the time of 487 
coverage renewal. The written notice to the contract holder must 488 
shall specifically identify any deletions, amendments, or 489 
limitations to any of the benefits provided in the group 490 
contract during the current contract period which will be 491 
included in the group contract upon renewal. This subsection 492 
does not apply to any incr eases in benefits. The 45 -day notice 493 
requirement does shall not apply if benefits are amended, 494 
deleted, or limited at the request of the contract holder. 495 
 (a)  At least 60 days before the effective date of any 496 
change to a prescription drug formulary during a contract year, 497 
a health maintenance organization shall notify: 498 
 1.  Current and prospective subscribers of the change in 499 
the formulary in a readily accessible format on the health 500     
 
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maintenance organization's website; and 501 
 2.  Any subscriber currently rec eiving coverage for a 502 
prescription drug for which the formulary change modifies 503 
coverage and the subscriber's treating physician. Such 504 
notification must be sent electronically and by first -class mail 505 
and must include information on the specific drugs invol ved and 506 
a statement that the submission of a notice of medical necessity 507 
by the subscriber's treating physician to the health maintenance 508 
organization at least 30 days before the effective date of the 509 
formulary change will result in continuation of coverag e at the 510 
existing level. 511 
 (b)  The notice provided by the treating physician to the 512 
health maintenance organization must include a completed one -513 
page form in which the treating physician certifies to the 514 
health maintenance organization that the prescriptio n drug for 515 
the subscriber is medically necessary as defined in s. 516 
627.732(2). The treating physician shall submit the notice 517 
electronically or by first -class mail. The health maintenance 518 
organization may provide the treating physician with access to 519 
an electronic portal through which the treating physician may 520 
electronically submit the notice. By January 1, 2026, the 521 
commission shall adopt by rule a form for the notice. 522 
 (c)  If the treating physician certifies to the health 523 
maintenance organization in acco rdance with paragraph (b) that 524 
the prescription drug is medically necessary for the subscriber, 525     
 
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the health maintenance organization: 526 
 1.  Must authorize coverage for the prescribed drug until 527 
the end of the contract year, based solely on the treating 528 
physician's certification that the drug is medically necessary; 529 
and 530 
 2.  May not modify the coverage related to the covered drug 531 
during the contract year by: 532 
 a.  Increasing the out -of-pocket costs for the covered 533 
drug; 534 
 b.  Moving the covered drug to a more re strictive tier; 535 
 c.  Denying a subscriber coverage of the drug for which the 536 
subscriber has been previously approved for coverage by the 537 
health maintenance organization; or 538 
 d.  Limiting or reducing coverage of the drug in any other 539 
way, including subjecti ng it to a new prior authorization or 540 
step-therapy requirement. 541 
 (d)  Paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) do not: 542 
 1.  Prohibit the addition of prescription drugs to the list 543 
of drugs covered under the contract during the contract year. 544 
 2.  Apply to a grandfathe red health plan as defined in s. 545 
627.402 or to benefits specified in s. 627.6513(1) -(14). 546 
 3.  Alter or amend s. 465.025, which provides conditions 547 
under which a pharmacist may substitute a generically equivalent 548 
drug product for a brand name drug product. 549 
 4.  Alter or amend s. 465.0252, which provides conditions 550     
 
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under which a pharmacist may dispense a substitute biological 551 
product for the prescribed biological product. 552 
 5.  Apply to a Medicaid managed care plan under part IV of 553 
chapter 409. 554 
 (e)  A health maintenance organization shall maintain a 555 
record of any change in its formulary during a calendar year. By 556 
March 1 of each year, a health maintenance organization shall 557 
submit to the office a report delineating such changes made in 558 
the previous calendar y ear. The annual report must include, at a 559 
minimum: 560 
 1.  A list of all drugs removed from the formulary, along 561 
with the date of the removal and the reasons for the removal. 562 
 2.  A list of all drugs moved to a tier resulting in 563 
additional out-of-pocket costs to subscribers. 564 
 3.  The number of subscribers notified by the health 565 
maintenance organization of a change in the formulary. 566 
 4.  The number of subscribers notified by the health 567 
maintenance organization of a change in the formulary. 568 
 5.  The increased cost, by dollar amount, incurred by 569 
subscribers because of such change in the formulary. 570 
 (f)  By May 1 of each year, the office shall: 571 
 1.  Compile the data in such annual reports submitted by 572 
health maintenance organizations and prepare a report 573 
summarizing the data submitted; 574 
 2.  Make the report publicly accessible on its website; and 575     
 
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 3.  Submit the report to the Governor, the President of the 576 
Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. 577 
 (48)(a)  As used in this subsection, the term "cost-sharing 578 
requirement" means a dollar limit, a deductible, a copayment, 579 
coinsurance, or any other out -of-pocket expense imposed on a 580 
subscriber, including, but not limited to, the annual limitation 581 
on cost sharing subject to 42 U.S.C. s. 18022. 582 
 (b)1.  Each health maintenance organization issuing, 583 
delivering, or renewing a health maintenance contract or 584 
certificate in this state which provides prescription drug 585 
coverage, or each pharmacy benefit manager on behalf of such 586 
health maintenance organization, shall apply any amount paid for 587 
a prescription drug by a subscriber or by another person on 588 
behalf of the subscriber toward the subscriber's total 589 
contribution to any cost -sharing requirement if the prescription 590 
drug: 591 
 a.  Does not have a generic equivale nt; or 592 
 b.  Has a generic equivalent and the subscriber has 593 
obtained authorization for the prescription drug through any of 594 
the following: 595 
 (I)  Prior authorization from the health maintenance 596 
organization or pharmacy benefit manager. 597 
 (II)  A step-therapy protocol. 598 
 (III)  The exception or appeal process of the health 599 
maintenance organization or pharmacy benefit manager. 600     
 
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 2.  The amount paid by or on behalf of the subscriber which 601 
is applied toward the subscriber's total contribution to any 602 
cost-sharing requirement under subparagraph 1. includes, but is 603 
not limited to, any payment with or any discount through 604 
financial assistance, a manufacturer copay card, a product 605 
voucher, or any other reduction in out -of-pocket expenses made 606 
by or on behalf of the subsc riber for a prescription drug. 607 
 (c)  Each health maintenance organization issuing, 608 
delivering, or renewing a health maintenance contract or 609 
certificate in this state which provides prescription drug 610 
coverage, regardless of whether the prescription drug ben efits 611 
are administered or managed by the health maintenance 612 
organization or by a pharmacy benefit manager on behalf of the 613 
health maintenance organization, shall disclose on its website 614 
and in every subscriber's health maintenance contract, 615 
certificate, or member handbook issued, delivered, or renewed in 616 
this state on or after January 1, 2026, that any amount paid by 617 
a subscriber or by another person on behalf of the subscriber 618 
must be applied toward the subscriber's total contribution to 619 
any cost-sharing requirement. 620 
 (d)1.  A health maintenance organization issuing, 621 
delivering, or renewing a health maintenance contract or 622 
certificate in this state which provides prescription drug 623 
coverage, regardless of whether the prescription drug benefits 624 
are administered or managed by the health maintenance 625     
 
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organization or by a pharmacy benefit manager on behalf of the 626 
health maintenance organization, shall maintain a record of any 627 
third-party payments, made or remitted on behalf of a 628 
subscriber, for prescription drugs, which are not applied to the 629 
subscriber's out-of-pocket obligations, including, but not 630 
limited to, deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance. 631 
 2.  By March 1 of each year, a health maintenance 632 
organization shall submit to the office a report delineating 633 
third-party payments, as described in subparagraph 1., which 634 
were received in the previous calendar year. The annual report 635 
must include, at a minimum: 636 
 a.  A list of all payments received by the health 637 
maintenance organization, as described in subparagraph 1., made 638 
or remitted by a third party, which must include: 639 
 (I)  The date each payment was made. 640 
 (II)  The prescription drug for which the payment was made. 641 
 (III)  The reason that the payment was not applied to the 642 
subscriber's out-of-pocket obligations. 643 
 b.  The total amount of payments received by the health 644 
maintenance organization which were not applied to a 645 
subscriber's out-of-pocket maximum. 646 
 c.  The total number of subscribers for which a payment was 647 
made which was not applied to an out -of-pocket maximum. 648 
 d.  Whether such payments were returned to the third party 649 
who submitted the payment. 650     
 
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 e.  The total amount of payments which were not returned to 651 
the third party who submitted the payment. 652 
 (e)  This subsection applies to any health maintenance 653 
contract or certificate issued, delivered, or renewed in this 654 
state on or after January 1, 2026. 655 
 Section 9.  Paragraph (c) is added to subsection (2) of 656 
section 641.314, Florida Statutes, to read: 657 
 641.314  Pharmacy benefit manager contracts. — 658 
 (2)  In addition to the requirements of part VII of chapter 659 
626, a contract between a health maintenance organization and a 660 
pharmacy benefit manager must require that the pharmacy benefit 661 
manager: 662 
 (c)1.  Apply any amount paid by a subscriber or by another 663 
person on behalf of the subscriber toward the subscriber's total 664 
contribution to any cost -sharing requirement pursuant to s. 665 
641.31(48). This subparagraph applies to any subscriber whose 666 
health maintenance contract or certificate is issued, delivered, 667 
or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 2026. 668 
 2.  Disclose to every subscriber whose health maintenance 669 
contract or certificate is issued, delivered, or renewed in this 670 
state on or after January 1, 2026, that the pharmacy benefit 671 
manager shall apply any amou nt paid by the subscriber or by 672 
another person on behalf of the subscriber toward the 673 
subscriber's total contribution to any cost -sharing requirement 674 
pursuant to s. 641.31(48). 675     
 
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 Section 10.  Paragraph (o) of subsection (2) of section 676 
409.967, Florida Sta tutes, is amended to read: 677 
 409.967  Managed care plan accountability. — 678 
 (2)  The agency shall establish such contract requirements 679 
as are necessary for the operation of the statewide managed care 680 
program. In addition to any other provisions the agency may deem 681 
necessary, the contract must require: 682 
 (o)  Transparency.—Managed care plans shall comply with ss. 683 
627.6385(4) ss. 627.6385(3) and 641.54(7). 684 
 Section 11.  Paragraph (k) of subsection (1) of section 685 
641.185, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 686 
 641.185  Health maintenance organization subscriber 687 
protections.— 688 
 (1)  With respect to the provisions of this part and part 689 
III, the principles expressed in the following statements serve 690 
as standards to be followed by the commission, the office, the 691 
department, and the Agency for Health Care Administration in 692 
exercising their powers and duties, in exercising administrative 693 
discretion, in administrative interpretations of the law, in 694 
enforcing its provisions, and in adopting rules: 695 
 (k)  A health maintenan ce organization subscriber shall be 696 
given a copy of the applicable health maintenance contract, 697 
certificate, or member handbook specifying: all the provisions, 698 
disclosure, and limitations required pursuant to s. 641.31(1) , 699 
and (4), and (48); the covered services, including those 700     
 
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services, medical conditions, and provider types specified in 701 
ss. 641.31, 641.31094, 641.31095, 641.31096, 641.51(11), and 702 
641.513; and where and in what manner services may be obtained 703 
pursuant to s. 641.31(4). 704 
 Section 12. This act applies to health insurance policies, 705 
health benefit plans, and health maintenance contracts entered 706 
into or renewed on or after January 1, 2026. 707 
 Section 13.  The Legislature finds that this act fulfills 708 
an important state interest. 709 
 Section 14. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025. 710