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New Laws Kick In For 2017

Fredd Thompson

New laws kicked in yesterday, and two of them are geared toward prescription drugs. A third law allows banks to designate one location in Florida where lawsuits can be served. The Florida Legislature wants to make it easier for doctors to prescribe opioids designed to prevent abuse.Some of the pills can prevent crushing, make them burn when snorted, or have an opiate reversal drug embedded that will release if the pill is tampered with.

The new law mandates that health insurance plans only require pre-authorization for the abuse-deterrent drugs if they also require it for regular opioids.

Dr. Marc Romano works at a Pompano Beach recovery center he says requiring a pre-authorization often means the patient has to fail with the regular opiate first.

“So then you’re prescribing a medication that has the potential to be abused. And when you’re talking about people with addiction, it’s very likely that they will abuse it.”

Critics say the law will add to insurance costs.

Another new law limits the sale of certain cough syrups to minors without a prescription … that bill is in response to reports of teenagers abusing cough medicine, and causing several deaths.