FL Senate President’s 2024 Health Care Agenda, Repeal of Drug Maker Liability Shield in MI & More

FL Senate President Outlines Health Care Priorities for 2024

Florida Senate President Kathleen Passidomo (R) unveiled her health care agenda for next year. It includes addressing workforce shortages, establishing new teaching hospitals for behavioral health and expanding health care price transparency. But it doesn’t include Medicaid expansion (PLURIBUS NEWS).

MI Repeals Drug Manufacturer Liability Shield

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) signed a bill (SB 410) repealing a law enacted in 1995 that gave drug manufacturers immunity from harm caused by their drugs. Residents, as well as state and local governments, will now be able to sue drug makers for such injuries. (MIGHICAN ADVANCE)

MI Increases Penalties for Assaulting Health Care Workers

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) also signed a pair of bills doubling the maximum fines for harassing or assaulting doctors, nurses and other medical professionals or volunteers. HB 4520 now makes those who assault a health care professional or volunteer without using a weapon subject to a misdemeanor charge punishable by up to a year in prison, a fine of up to $2,000, or both. HB 4521 still makes those who assault health care professionals or volunteers with a weapon subject to a felony charge punishable by a prison term of up to four years, but it increases the maximum fine from $2,000 to $4,000. (DETROIT FREE PRESS)

MI Creates New Nursing Facility Position to Ease Workforce Shortage

Michigan Gov. Whitmer (D) signed another pair of bills (HB 4885 and HB 4923) that provide for the creation of “medication aides” for dispensing routine medications at skilled nursing facilities. The legislation is aimed at helping alleviate worker shortages at such facilities. (BRIDGE MICHIGAN, LEXISNEXIS STATE NET)

FDA Approves First CRISPR-Based Medicine

The Food and Drug Administration approved the world’s first medicine based on CRISPR gene-editing technology. The new medication, called Casgevy, made by Vertex Pharmaceuticals and CRISPR Therapeutics, is used to treat patients with sickle cell disease. (STAT)

—Compiled by SNCJ Managing Editor KOREY CLARK

Please visit our webpage to connect with a State Net representative and learn how the State Net legislative and regulatory tracking solution can help you identify, track, analyze and report on relevant legislative and regulatory developments.