Prescription Drugs

The man, diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder, said he was reassured the drugmaker’s copay card would cover his share, but after two months, the card was empty.

The proposal comes as the state insurance program faces a $350 million budget shortfall for 2026-27. State Rep. Shane Abbott said it could save over $125 million annually.

The complaint filed by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation claims that the state illegally changed rules regarding income eligibility thresholds for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program.

The measure, which must clear one more committee before going to the House floor, would begin what is described as a “most favored nation” system on drug prices in the state.

The bill, which passed the Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee, would take a series of steps, including instituting what is described as a “most favored nation” system on pricing.

State officials said the change is being made to prevent a shortfall of more than $120 million in the program for low-income people living with HIV.

The two bills released aim to cut regulations, expand provider authority and reduce prescription costs, advancing what lawmakers describe as President Donald Trump’s health vision for the state.

Gainesville residents dropped off their unused or expired prescription drugs at HCA Florida Gainesville Emergency on Saturday as part of efforts to safely dispose of medications.

Criticism of prescription drug middlemen has intensified recently in the wake of a federal agency’s actions and legislative reform attempts.

President Joe Biden is campaigning on his efforts to cut drug costs for Medicare patients. But independent pharmacists say one strategy makes it unaffordable for them to keep some brand-name medicines in stock.

A study by the Rand Corp., a nonpartisan research organization, found that, across all drugs, U.S. prices were 2.78 times higher than the prices in 33 OECD countries. The gap was even larger for brand-name drugs.

As national distributors and pharmacies restricted the flow of painkillers in response to the opioid crisis, Publix did the opposite, according to a Tampa Bay Times/KFF Health News data analysis.