Florida Senate - 2026                                    SB 1158
       
       
        
       By Senator Grall
       
       
       
       
       
       29-01540A-26                                          20261158__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to drug prices and coverage; creating
    3         s. 381.02036, F.S.; requiring the Agency for Health
    4         Care Administration to contract with an entity to
    5         designate reference price source countries and analyze
    6         certain data; defining the term “real gross domestic
    7         product per capita”; providing duties for the
    8         contracted entity; requiring the agency to publish
    9         annually prescription drug reference prices; amending
   10         s. 465.0244, F.S.; prohibiting pharmacies from
   11         charging cash-paying customers more than the reference
   12         prices for prescribed drugs and biological products;
   13         providing applicability; creating s. 499.044, F.S.;
   14         providing legislative intent; defining the terms
   15         “prescription drug” and “drug”; requiring prescription
   16         drug manufacturer permitholders to annually report to
   17         the agency international drug price data beginning on
   18         a specified date; specifying reporting requirements
   19         and penalties; amending s. 626.8825, F.S.; defining
   20         terms; requiring that contracts between pharmacy
   21         benefit managers and pharmacy benefits plans and
   22         programs prohibit pharmacy benefit managers from
   23         offering and implementing certain formularies;
   24         requiring that contracts between pharmacy benefit
   25         managers and participating pharmacies allow a
   26         specified option in the administrative appeal
   27         procedure; amending s. 626.8827, F.S.; prohibiting
   28         pharmacy benefit managers from engaging in certain
   29         practices relating to pharmacies and pharmacists;
   30         creating s. 627.4231, F.S.; defining terms; requiring
   31         certain health insurers to limit covered prescription
   32         drug reimbursement to reference prices; requiring that
   33         savings from such reimbursement limits be used for
   34         certain purposes; providing documentation, assessment,
   35         and reporting requirements for such health insurers;
   36         providing applicability; requiring the Office of
   37         Insurance Regulation and the agency to submit an
   38         annual report to the Governor and the Legislature;
   39         creating s. 627.42398, F.S.; requiring that certain
   40         health insurance policies limit changes to
   41         prescription drug formularies under certain
   42         circumstances; providing applicability; providing
   43         construction; amending s. 627.6699, F.S.; requiring
   44         small employer carriers to limit changes to
   45         prescription drug formularies; amending s. 641.30,
   46         F.S.; requiring health maintenance organizations to
   47         comply with requirements on limits on prescription
   48         drug reimbursement and on the uses of savings from
   49         such limits; amending s. 641.31, F.S.; prohibiting the
   50         inclusion of specified provisions in certain health
   51         maintenance contracts; providing applicability;
   52         providing construction; requiring the Financial
   53         Services Commission to adopt certain rules by a
   54         specified date; providing a declaration of important
   55         state interest; providing an effective date.
   56          
   57  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   58  
   59         Section 1. Section 381.02036, Florida Statutes, is created
   60  to read:
   61         381.02036International drug reference pricing.—The Agency
   62  for Health Care Administration shall contract with an entity to
   63  designate reference price source countries and analyze the data
   64  submitted under s. 499.044 to establish the reference price for
   65  each prescribed drug.
   66         (1)(a)The list of reference price source countries must
   67  include only countries with a real gross domestic product per
   68  capita of at least 60 percent of the United States gross
   69  domestic product per capita, using international sales, volume,
   70  and pricing data for each country. For the purposes of this
   71  paragraph, the term “real gross domestic product per capita”
   72  means a country’s most recent estimate based on purchasing power
   73  parity for that country available in the most recent edition of
   74  the United States Central Intelligence Agency World Factbook.
   75  Countries with single-payer health care systems, which include
   76  whole-market government price-setting for prescription drugs,
   77  must be excluded. The agency contractor shall reevaluate the
   78  designated reference price source countries annually and shall
   79  revise the list as needed.
   80         (b)The agency contractor shall weight the reference price
   81  benchmark value of the selected reference price source countries
   82  and sort the countries into two or more tiers, using an
   83  established index measuring the level of health care system
   84  market orientation in each country.
   85         (2)(a)The agency contractor shall analyze the data
   86  submitted under s. 499.044 to compare prices among source
   87  countries using a publicly available, reliable, and consistent
   88  exchange rate source. The agency contractor shall establish the
   89  reference price for each prescribed drug, which must be the
   90  lowest price, after adjusting for volume and difference in
   91  national gross domestic product, identified in the source
   92  countries. A reference price is not required to be established
   93  for a drug that has a domestic price determined by the
   94  contractor to be competitive with foreign prices; however, the
   95  agency contractor shall identify and report such drugs and their
   96  reference prices to the agency.
   97         (b)The agency contractor shall prioritize drugs that have
   98  little or no competition in the domestic market or that have the
   99  greatest difference between the domestic price and the reference
  100  price, including, but not limited to, brand name and single
  101  source drugs.
  102         (3)The agency contractor shall update the reference prices
  103  annually and may reevaluate and update a specific reference
  104  price at any time based on a significant change documented by
  105  supplemental pricing data submitted by a manufacturer under s.
  106  499.044(3).
  107         (4)The agency contractor shall provide to the agency the
  108  reference prices no later than January 1 each year, and the
  109  agency shall publish the reference prices online within 10 days
  110  after receipt.
  111         Section 2. Subsection (3) is added to section 465.0244,
  112  Florida Statutes, to read:
  113         465.0244 Information disclosure; reference prices.—
  114         (3)A pharmacy may not charge a cash-paying customer an
  115  amount greater than the reference price established under s.
  116  381.02036 for a prescribed drug or biological product. The limit
  117  on a drug or biological product charge applies only to the drug
  118  or biological product itself and does not apply to any
  119  dispensing fee.
  120         Section 3. Section 499.044, Florida Statutes, is created to
  121  read:
  122         499.044International drug reference pricing.—
  123         (1)It is the intent of the Legislature that patients and
  124  third-party payors in this state should not pay more for
  125  prescription drugs than those in international markets.
  126         (2)As used in this section, the term “prescription drug”
  127  or “drug” has the same meaning as the term “prescription drug”
  128  in s. 499.003 and includes biological products. The term is
  129  limited to those prescription drugs and biological products
  130  intended for human use.
  131         (3)Beginning October 1, 2026, each prescription drug
  132  manufacturer permitholder and nonresident prescription drug
  133  manufacturer permitholder shall annually report international
  134  prescription drug price data to the Agency for Health Care
  135  Administration.
  136         (a)Permitholders shall annually report the actual
  137  outpatient payment or reimbursement amounts for each prescribed
  138  drug in each reference price source country identified pursuant
  139  to s. 381.02036, including amounts paid by both third-party
  140  payors, such as insurers and public health coverage programs,
  141  and by individual consumers not using third-party payors, net of
  142  rebates and other forms of discounts. Permitholders may report
  143  to the agency the average payment amounts for each drug for a
  144  reference price source country, if weighted by utilization
  145  volume and fully documented.
  146         (b)Permitholders may provide supplemental price data at
  147  any time during the year, based on price changes in a reference
  148  price source country.
  149         (c)Permitholders shall report the data in a format
  150  established by the agency in consultation with the contractor
  151  established under s. 381.02036.
  152         (d)The penalty for failure to timely report required data
  153  is a fine of $10,000 a day for the first 30 days, and permit
  154  suspension thereafter until compliance is achieved.
  155         Section 4. Present paragraphs (b), (c) through (f), (g)
  156  through (j), and (k) through (x) of subsection (1) of section
  157  626.8825, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as paragraphs (c),
  158  (f) through (i), (k) through (n), and (p) through (cc),
  159  respectively, paragraph (h) of subsection (2) and paragraph (h)
  160  of subsection (3) are amended, and new paragraphs (b), (d), (e),
  161  (j), and (o) are added to subsection (1) of that section, to
  162  read:
  163         626.8825 Pharmacy benefit manager transparency and
  164  accountability.—
  165         (1) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:
  166         (b)“Affiliated manufacturer” means a drug or biological
  167  product manufacturer that, either directly or indirectly through
  168  one or more intermediaries:
  169         1.Has an investment or ownership interest in a pharmacy
  170  benefit manager holding a certificate of authority issued under
  171  this part;
  172         2.Shares common ownership with a pharmacy benefit manager
  173  holding a certificate of authority issued under this part; or
  174         3.Has an investor or a holder of an ownership interest
  175  which is a pharmacy benefit manager holding a certificate of
  176  authority issued under this part.
  177         (d)“Biological product” has the same meaning as in s. 351
  178  of the federal Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. s. 262.
  179         (e)“Biosimilar” has the same meaning as in s. 351 of the
  180  federal Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. s. 262.
  181         (j)“Drug” has the same meaning as in s. 499.003.
  182         (o)“Interchangeable” has the same meaning as in s. 351 of
  183  the federal Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. s. 262.
  184         (2) CONTRACTS BETWEEN A PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGER AND A
  185  PHARMACY BENEFITS PLAN OR PROGRAM.—In addition to any other
  186  requirements in the Florida Insurance Code, all contractual
  187  arrangements executed, amended, adjusted, or renewed on or after
  188  July 1, 2023, which are applicable to pharmacy benefits covered
  189  on or after January 1, 2024, between a pharmacy benefit manager
  190  and a pharmacy benefits plan or program must include, in
  191  substantial form, terms that ensure compliance with all of the
  192  following requirements and that, except to the extent not
  193  allowed by law, shall supersede any contractual terms to the
  194  contrary:
  195         (h)1. At a minimum, require the pharmacy benefit manager or
  196  pharmacy benefits plan or program to, upon revising its
  197  formulary of covered prescription drugs during a plan year,
  198  provide a 60-day continuity-of-care period in which the covered
  199  prescription drug that is being revised from the formulary
  200  continues to be provided at the same cost for the patient for a
  201  period of 60 days. The 60-day continuity-of-care period
  202  commences upon notification to the patient. This requirement
  203  does not apply if the covered prescription drug:
  204         a. Has been approved and made available over the counter by
  205  the United States Food and Drug Administration and has entered
  206  the commercial market as such;
  207         b. Has been removed or withdrawn from the commercial market
  208  by the manufacturer; or
  209         c. Is subject to an involuntary recall by state or federal
  210  authorities and is no longer available on the commercial market.
  211         2.Prohibit the pharmacy benefit manager from offering or
  212  implementing a formulary that requires a covered person to
  213  receive a drug or biological product manufactured by an
  214  affiliated manufacturer when there is an available generically
  215  equivalent drug or an available biological product that is
  216  biosimilar to and interchangeable for the prescribed biological
  217  product.
  218         3.2. Beginning January 1, 2024, and annually thereafter,
  219  the pharmacy benefits plan or program shall submit to the
  220  office, under the penalty of perjury, a statement attesting to
  221  its compliance with the requirements of this subsection.
  222         (3) CONTRACTS BETWEEN A PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGER AND A
  223  PARTICIPATING PHARMACY.—In addition to other requirements in the
  224  Florida Insurance Code, a participation contract executed,
  225  amended, adjusted, or renewed on or after July 1, 2023, that
  226  applies to pharmacist services on or after January 1, 2024,
  227  between a pharmacy benefit manager and one or more pharmacies or
  228  pharmacists, must include, in substantial form, terms that
  229  ensure compliance with all of the following requirements, and
  230  that, except to the extent not allowed by law, shall supersede
  231  any contractual terms in the participation contract to the
  232  contrary:
  233         (h) The pharmacy benefit manager shall provide a reasonable
  234  administrative appeal procedure to allow a pharmacy or
  235  pharmacist to challenge the maximum allowable cost pricing
  236  information and the reimbursement made under the maximum
  237  allowable cost as defined in s. 627.64741 for a specific drug as
  238  being below the acquisition cost available to the challenging
  239  pharmacy or pharmacist.
  240         1. The administrative appeal procedure must include a
  241  telephone number and e-mail address, or a website, for the
  242  purpose of submitting the administrative appeal. The appeal may
  243  be submitted by the pharmacy or an agent of the pharmacy
  244  directly to the pharmacy benefit manager or through a pharmacy
  245  service administration organization. The administrative appeal
  246  procedure must allow a pharmacy or pharmacist the option to
  247  submit a consolidated administrative appeal representing
  248  multiple substantially similar claims. The pharmacy or
  249  pharmacist must be given at least 30 business days after a
  250  maximum allowable cost update or after an adjudication for an
  251  electronic claim or reimbursement for a nonelectronic claim to
  252  file the administrative appeal.
  253         2. The pharmacy benefit manager must respond to the
  254  administrative appeal within 30 business days after receipt of
  255  the appeal.
  256         3. If the appeal is upheld, the pharmacy benefit manager
  257  must:
  258         a. Update the maximum allowable cost pricing information to
  259  at least the acquisition cost available to the pharmacy;
  260         b. Permit the pharmacy or pharmacist to reverse and rebill
  261  the claim in question;
  262         c. Provide to the pharmacy or pharmacist the national drug
  263  code on which the increase or change is based; and
  264         d. Make the increase or change effective for each similarly
  265  situated pharmacy or pharmacist who is subject to the applicable
  266  maximum allowable cost pricing information.
  267         4. If the appeal is denied, the pharmacy benefit manager
  268  must provide to the pharmacy or pharmacist the national drug
  269  code and the name of the national or regional pharmaceutical
  270  wholesalers operating in this state which have the drug
  271  currently in stock at a price below the maximum allowable cost
  272  pricing information.
  273         5. Every 90 days, a pharmacy benefit manager shall report
  274  to the office the total number of appeals received and denied in
  275  the preceding 90-day period, with an explanation or reason for
  276  each denial, for each specific drug for which an appeal was
  277  submitted pursuant to this paragraph.
  278         Section 5. Subsections (8) and (9) are added to section
  279  626.8827, Florida Statutes, to read:
  280         626.8827 Pharmacy benefit manager prohibited practices.—In
  281  addition to other prohibitions in this part, a pharmacy benefit
  282  manager may not do any of the following:
  283         (8)Prohibit or restrict a pharmacy or pharmacist from
  284  declining to dispense a drug if the reimbursement rate is less
  285  than the actual acquisition cost incurred or which would be
  286  incurred by the pharmacy or pharmacist.
  287         (9)Reimburse a pharmacy or pharmacist less than it
  288  reimburses an affiliated pharmacy or pharmacist, as those terms
  289  are defined in s. 626.8825.
  290         Section 6. Section 627.4231, Florida Statutes, is created
  291  to read:
  292         627.4231Insurance reimbursement of prescribed drugs at
  293  reference prices.—
  294         (1)As used in this section, the term:
  295         (a)“Biological product” has the same meaning as in s. 351
  296  of the federal Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. s. 262.
  297         (b)“Health insurer” means an authorized insurer offering
  298  health insurance as defined in s. 624.603, a managed care plan
  299  as defined in s. 409.962(10), a health maintenance organization
  300  as defined in s. 641.19, or the state group insurance program as
  301  established in part I of chapter 110.
  302         (c)“Prescription drug” or “drug” has the same meaning as
  303  the term “prescription drug” in s. 499.003 and includes
  304  biological products. The term is limited to those prescription
  305  drugs and biological products intended for human use.
  306         (2)A health insurer that provides coverage for outpatient
  307  prescription drugs shall provide reimbursement for a covered
  308  prescription drug for which there is a reference price under s.
  309  381.02036 in an amount no greater than the reference price. This
  310  subsection applies to drug reimbursement and does not apply to
  311  any covered dispensing or administration fee established under
  312  the terms of the provider contract.
  313         (3)(a)Savings generated under subsection (2) must be used
  314  to reduce policyholder premiums and cost sharing as defined in
  315  s. 627.42391(1). Each health insurer shall document anticipated
  316  savings and premium reductions in rate filings beginning with
  317  the first rate filing following the availability of reference
  318  prices under s. 381.02036.
  319         (b)Each health insurer shall assess the actuarial effect
  320  of the reference pricing under s. 381.02036 for each insurer
  321  product for each plan year. Beginning April 1 following the
  322  first full plan year in which reference prices under s.
  323  381.02036 apply to prescription drug reimbursement, each health
  324  insurer shall submit an annual report on the assessed effect to
  325  the Office of Insurance Regulation or the Agency for Health Care
  326  Administration, as applicable.
  327         (4)The requirements of this section apply to prescription
  328  drug coverage in the Medicaid program established in chapter 409
  329  to the extent a reference price established under s. 381.02036
  330  generates greater savings for the program than that provided by
  331  the state supplemental rebate program established under s.
  332  409.912.
  333         (5)Beginning January 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, the
  334  Office of Insurance Regulation and the Agency for Health Care
  335  Administration shall submit a joint report to the Governor, the
  336  President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
  337  Representatives detailing the impact of subsections (2), (3),
  338  and (4) in the preceding year, including savings realized
  339  compared to prescription drug pricing in the United States not
  340  using this pricing model, any problems encountered, any barriers
  341  to accessing prescription drugs, the domestic and foreign
  342  prescription drug market response, the monitoring and evaluation
  343  of the impact on prescription drug program or plan beneficiary
  344  access, the quality of care, and the program costs.
  345         Section 7. Section 627.42398, Florida Statutes, is created
  346  to read:
  347         627.42398Insurance policies; limiting changes to
  348  prescription drug formularies.—
  349         (1)Other than at the time of coverage renewal, an
  350  individual or group insurance policy that is delivered, issued
  351  for delivery, renewed, amended, or continued in this state and
  352  that provides medical, major medical, or similar comprehensive
  353  coverage may not, while the insured is taking a prescription
  354  drug:
  355         (a)Remove the prescription drug from its list of covered
  356  drugs during the policy year unless the United States Food and
  357  Drug Administration has issued a statement about the drug which
  358  calls into question the clinical safety of the drug; the
  359  manufacturer of the drug has notified the United States Food and
  360  Drug Administration of a manufacturing discontinuance or
  361  potential discontinuance of the drug as required by s. 506C of
  362  the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. s. 356c; or
  363  the drug has been approved and made available over the counter
  364  by the United States Food and Drug Administration and has
  365  entered the commercial market as such.
  366         (b)Reclassify the drug to a more restrictive drug tier or
  367  increase the amount that an insured must pay for a copayment,
  368  coinsurance, or deductible for prescription drug benefits, or
  369  reclassify the drug to a higher cost-sharing tier during the
  370  policy year.
  371  
  372  This subsection applies to drugs for which an insurer negotiates
  373  a single acquisition price that will be in effect for the entire
  374  plan year.
  375         (2)This section does not:
  376         (a)Prohibit the addition of prescription drugs to the list
  377  of drugs covered under the policy during the policy year.
  378         (b)Apply to a grandfathered health plan as defined in s.
  379  627.402 or to benefits set forth in s. 627.6513(1)-(14).
  380         (c)Alter or amend s. 465.025, which provides conditions
  381  under which a pharmacist may substitute a generically equivalent
  382  drug product for a brand name drug product.
  383         (d)Alter or amend s. 465.0252, which provides conditions
  384  under which a pharmacist may dispense a substitute biological
  385  product for the prescribed biological product.
  386         (e)Apply to a Medicaid managed care plan under part IV of
  387  chapter 409.
  388         Section 8. Paragraph (e) of subsection (5) of section
  389  627.6699, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  390         627.6699 Employee Health Care Access Act.—
  391         (5) AVAILABILITY OF COVERAGE.—
  392         (e) All health benefit plans issued under this section must
  393  comply with the following conditions:
  394         1. For employers who have fewer than two employees, a late
  395  enrollee may be excluded from coverage for no longer than 24
  396  months if he or she was not covered by creditable coverage
  397  continually to a date not more than 63 days before the effective
  398  date of his or her new coverage.
  399         2. Any requirement used by a small employer carrier in
  400  determining whether to provide coverage to a small employer
  401  group, including requirements for minimum participation of
  402  eligible employees and minimum employer contributions, must be
  403  applied uniformly among all small employer groups having the
  404  same number of eligible employees applying for coverage or
  405  receiving coverage from the small employer carrier, except that
  406  a small employer carrier that participates in, administers, or
  407  issues health benefits pursuant to s. 381.0406 which do not
  408  include a preexisting condition exclusion may require as a
  409  condition of offering such benefits that the employer has had no
  410  health insurance coverage for its employees for a period of at
  411  least 6 months. A small employer carrier may vary application of
  412  minimum participation requirements and minimum employer
  413  contribution requirements only by the size of the small employer
  414  group.
  415         3. In applying minimum participation requirements with
  416  respect to a small employer, a small employer carrier may shall
  417  not consider as an eligible employee employees or dependents who
  418  have qualifying existing coverage in an employer-based group
  419  insurance plan or an ERISA qualified self-insurance plan in
  420  determining whether the applicable percentage of participation
  421  is met. However, a small employer carrier may count eligible
  422  employees and dependents who have coverage under another health
  423  plan that is sponsored by that employer.
  424         4. A small employer carrier may shall not increase any
  425  requirement for minimum employee participation or any
  426  requirement for minimum employer contribution applicable to a
  427  small employer at any time after the small employer has been
  428  accepted for coverage, unless the employer size has changed, in
  429  which case the small employer carrier may apply the requirements
  430  that are applicable to the new group size.
  431         5. If a small employer carrier offers coverage to a small
  432  employer, it must offer coverage to all the small employer’s
  433  eligible employees and their dependents. A small employer
  434  carrier may not offer coverage limited to certain persons in a
  435  group or to part of a group, except with respect to late
  436  enrollees.
  437         6. A small employer carrier may not modify any health
  438  benefit plan issued to a small employer with respect to a small
  439  employer or any eligible employee or dependent through riders,
  440  endorsements, or otherwise to restrict or exclude coverage for
  441  certain diseases or medical conditions otherwise covered by the
  442  health benefit plan.
  443         7. An initial enrollment period of at least 30 days must be
  444  provided. An annual 30-day open enrollment period must be
  445  offered to each small employer’s eligible employees and their
  446  dependents. A small employer carrier must provide special
  447  enrollment periods as required by s. 627.65615.
  448         8.A small employer carrier shall limit changes to
  449  prescription drug formularies as required by s. 627.42398.
  450         Section 9. Subsection (6) is added to section 641.30,
  451  Florida Statutes, to read:
  452         641.30 Construction and relationship to other laws.—
  453         (6)Every health maintenance organization must comply with
  454  s. 627.4231.
  455         Section 10. Subsection (36) of section 641.31, Florida
  456  Statutes, is amended to read:
  457         641.31 Health maintenance contracts.—
  458         (36) A health maintenance organization may increase the
  459  copayment for any benefit, or delete, amend, or limit any of the
  460  benefits to which a subscriber is entitled under the group
  461  contract only, upon written notice to the contract holder at
  462  least 45 days in advance of the time of coverage renewal. The
  463  health maintenance organization may amend the contract with the
  464  contract holder, with such amendment to be effective immediately
  465  at the time of coverage renewal. The written notice to the
  466  contract holder must shall specifically identify any deletions,
  467  amendments, or limitations to any of the benefits provided in
  468  the group contract during the current contract period which will
  469  be included in the group contract upon renewal. This subsection
  470  does not apply to any increases in benefits. The 45-day notice
  471  requirement does shall not apply if benefits are amended,
  472  deleted, or limited at the request of the contract holder.
  473         (a)Other than at the time of coverage renewal, a health
  474  maintenance contract that is delivered, issued for delivery,
  475  renewed, amended, or continued in this state and that provides
  476  medical, major medical, or similar comprehensive coverage may
  477  not, while the subscriber is taking a prescription drug:
  478         1.Remove the prescription drug from its list of covered
  479  drugs during the policy year or contract year unless the United
  480  States Food and Drug Administration has issued a statement about
  481  the drug which calls into question the clinical safety of the
  482  drug; the manufacturer of the drug has notified the United
  483  States Food and Drug Administration of a manufacturing
  484  discontinuance or potential discontinuance of the drug as
  485  required by s. 506C of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act,
  486  21 U.S.C. s. 356c; or the drug has been approved and made
  487  available over the counter by the United States Food and Drug
  488  Administration and has entered the commercial market as such.
  489         2.Reclassify the drug to a more restrictive drug tier or
  490  increase the amount that a subscriber must pay for a copayment,
  491  coinsurance, or deductible for prescription drug benefits, or
  492  reclassify the drug to a higher cost-sharing tier during the
  493  policy year or contract year.
  494  
  495  This paragraph applies to drugs for which a health maintenance
  496  organization negotiates a single acquisition price that will be
  497  in effect for the entire plan year.
  498         (b)This subsection does not:
  499         1.Prohibit the addition of prescription drugs to the list
  500  of drugs covered during the policy year or contract year.
  501         2.Apply to a grandfathered health plan as defined in s.
  502  627.402 or to benefits set forth in s. 627.6513(1)-(14).
  503         3.Alter or amend s. 465.025, which provides conditions
  504  under which a pharmacist may substitute a generically equivalent
  505  drug product for a brand name drug product.
  506         4.Alter or amend s. 465.0252, which provides conditions
  507  under which a pharmacist may dispense a substitute biological
  508  product for the prescribed biological product.
  509         5.Apply to a Medicaid managed care plan under part IV of
  510  chapter 409.
  511         Section 11. The Financial Services Commission shall adopt
  512  rules to implement sections 4 and 5 of this act by January 1,
  513  2027.
  514         Section 12. The Legislature finds that this act fulfills an
  515  important state interest by:
  516         (1) Increasing medication adherence and reducing the
  517  likelihood that Floridians would choose to forego, substitute,
  518  or ration prescribed medication and therapies due to high cost,
  519  by helping cost-burdened Floridians acquire prescribed
  520  medication and therapies at competitive, market-based prices.
  521         (2) Ensuring that residents of this state do not spend more
  522  for the same quantity of a prescription drug than residents of
  523  other countries, by regulating even-handedly and prospectively,
  524  in a historically regulated industry, both resident and
  525  nonresident drug manufacturers with regard to international
  526  price transparency and international reference-based upper
  527  payment limits.
  528         (3) Ensuring that residents of this state are not at a
  529  competitive disadvantage compared to residents of other
  530  countries, by countering monopolistic and anticompetitive market
  531  conditions using international reference-based upper-payment
  532  limits regardless of the incidental effect experienced if other
  533  states adopt similar legislation.
  534         (4) Maximizing the number of residents of this state with
  535  commercial health plan coverage who can access competitive,
  536  market-based prices without interfering with nationally uniform
  537  plan administration.
  538         (5) Regulating state-licensed activity and establishing a
  539  competitive market without depriving drug manufacturers of
  540  reasonable opportunities to profit from their investments, by
  541  normalizing both the drug prices paid by residents of this state
  542  with those the manufacturers accept in other countries and the
  543  profit they benefit from in those countries.
  544         Section 13. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.