SB 700 — Telehealth

Florida Senate - 2021 CS for SB 700 By Senatorthe RodriguezCommittee 39-00936A-21on 2021700__Health APolicy; bill to be entitled An act relating to telehealth;

and Senator Rodriguez 588-02182-21 2021700c1 A bill to be entitled An act relating to telehealth;

authorizing out-of state physician telehealth providers to engage in formal supervisory relationships with certain nonphysician health care practitioners in this state;

providing an exception;

465.1893, F.S.;

providing additional long-acting medications pharmacists may administer under certain circumstances;

revising requirements for a continuing education course such pharmacists must complete;

amending s.

468.1225, F.S.;

revising minimum procedures and equipment requirements for fitting and selling hearing aids;

amending s.

468.1265, F.S.;

revising a prohibition on the sale or distribution of hearing aids through the mail;

amending s.

484.0501, F.S.;

revising minimum procedures and equipment requirements for fitting and selling hearing aids;

amending s.

484.054, F.S.;

revising a prohibition on the sale or distribution of hearing aids through the mail;

amending s.

6070 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

6272 Section 1. Present subsections (22) through (26) of section 409.908, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (23) through (27), respectively, and a new subsection (22) is added to that section, to read:

Section 2. Present2. Paragraph paragraphs(a) (h)of subsection (1) and (i)paragraph (c) of subsection (4)(2) of section 456.47, Florida Statutes, are redesignatedamended, as paragraphs (i) and (j), respectively, a new paragraph (h) is added to that subsection, paragraph (f) is added to subsection (2) of that section, and paragraph (a) of subsection (1), paragraph (c) of subsection (2), and paragraph (c) of subsection (4) of that section are amended, to read:

(4) REGISTRATION OF OUT-OF-STATE TELEHEALTH PROVIDERS.— (c) The website of a telehealth provider registered under paragraph (b) must prominently display a hyperlink to the department’s website containing information required under paragraph (i)(h).

(h) A physician registered under this subsection may use telehealth to engage in a formal supervisory relationship with a nonphysician health care practitioner in this state, including but not limited to, an advanced practice registered nurse, a certified registered nurse anesthetist, or a physician assistant.

However, such supervision may not be for the provision of any health care service that requires direct supervision under the applicable laws and rules in this state.

Section 11. Paragraph11. Section (e)465.1893, Florida Statutes, is addedamended to subsectionread (1)465.1893 Administration of sectionlong-acting 893.05,antipsychotic Floridamedication Statutes,by injection.— (1)(a) A pharmacist, at the direction of a physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459, may administer a long-acting antipsychotic medication or an extended-release medication indicated to read:treat opioid use disorder, alcohol use disorder, or other substance use disorder or dependency, including, but not limited to, buprenorphine, naltrexone, or other medications that have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration by injection to a patient if the pharmacist:

1. Is authorized by and acting within the framework of an established protocol with the prescribing physician.

2. Practices at a facility that accommodates privacy for nondeltoid injections and conforms with state rules and regulations regarding the appropriate and safe disposal of medication and medical waste.

3. Has completed the course required under subsection (2).

(b) A separate prescription from a physician is required for each injection administered by a pharmacist under this subsection.

(2)(a) A pharmacist seeking to administer a long-acting antipsychotic medication described in paragraph (1)(a) by injection must complete an 8-hour continuing education course offered by:

1. A statewide professional association of physicians in this state accredited to provide educational activities designated for the American Medical Association Physician’s Recognition Award (AMA PRA) Category 1 Credit or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) Category 1-A continuing medical education (CME) credit;

and 2. A statewide association of pharmacists.

(b) The course may be offered in a distance learning format and must be included in the 30 hours of continuing professional pharmaceutical education required under s.

465.009(1).

The course shall have a curriculum of instruction that concerns the safe and effective administration of behavioral health, addiction, and antipsychotic medications by injection, including, but not limited to, potential allergic reactions to such medications.

Section 12. Subsections (1) through (4) of section 468.1225, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

468.1225 Procedures, equipment, and protocols.— (1) The following minimal procedures must shall be used when a licensed audiologist fits and sells a hearing aid unless the client is 18 years of age or older and provides a medical clearance or a waiver of medical examination:

(a) Pure tone audiometric testing by air and bone to determine the type and degree of hearing deficiency when indicated.