CA Close to Requiring Insurers to Cover PrEP, Bill with Medical Malpractice Caps Emerges in FL & More

CA Legislature Passes Bill Requiring Insurers to Cover PrEP

California’s Legislature passed a bill (SB 339) that would require health insurance companies to cover the cost of pharmacist-filled orders of PrEP medications, which prevent the transmission of HIV. A bill passed in the state in 2019 made PrEP drugs available without a prescription, but pharmacists said they were still having difficulty filling orders for the drugs, due in part to a lack of support from insurers. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) hasn’t indicated whether or not he supports the new measure. (SACRAMENTO BEE, LEXISNEXIS STATE NET)

FL Senate Advances Bill with Medical Malpractice Caps

Florida’s Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill (SB 248) that, as amended, would limit pain-and-suffering damages in lawsuits against hospitals and doctors. The measure would limit “non-economic damages” from doctors or practitioners to $500,000, no matter how many are liable, and cap such damages from hospitals and other “nonpractitioners” at $750,000. (WUSF)

FL Senate Panel Advances Bill Dealing with Medical Malpractice Wrongful Death Suits

Florida’s Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill (SB 248) that would expand a more than three-decades-old restriction on who can file medical malpractice wrongful death claims. The measure would allow parents of grown children who died as a result of medical negligence to sue the children's health care providers. (INSURANCE JOURNAL)

Ohio Legislature Overrides Gov’s Veto of Gender-Affirming Care Ban

Ohio’s Senate voted to override Gov. Mide DeWine’s (R) veto of a bill (HB 68) prohibiting doctors from providing gender-affirming care to minors, as well as barring transgender women and girls from participating in women’s sports. The House voted to override the measure earlier this month. The new law is expected to take effect in about 90 days. (ASSOCIATED PRESS, COLUMBUS DISPATCH)

—Compiled by SNCJ Managing Editor KOREY CLARK

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