Passage of Pharma Immunity Shield Repeal Bill in MI, FL Senate’s Healthcare Focus in 2024 & More

MI Lawmakers Pass Bill to Repeal Pharma Immunity Shield

The Michigan Legislature passed a bill (SB 410) that would repeal a law passed in 1995 preventing lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies. Bloomberg Law reported that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) was “likely to sign” the measure. (MICHIGAN ADVANCE, BLOOMBERG LAW, STATE NET)

FL Senate to Focus on Healthcare System Next Year

Florida Senate President Kathleen Passidomo (R) sent a memo to her fellow senators last week saying her focus for the 2024 session would be “growing Florida’s health care workforce, increasing access, and incentivizing innovation, so Floridians can have more options and opportunities to live healthy.” The memo cited studies projecting the state would have nearly 18,000 fewer physicians and 37,400 fewer registered nurses than needed by 2035. It also indicated the chamber’s Health Policy Committee would be holding a workshop on Nov. 14 “to begin the process of fine tuning ideas, putting pen to paper, and of course, hearing more input from stakeholders.” (FLORIDA POLITICS, FLORIDA SENATE) 

U.S. Senate Panel Passes PBM Restrictions

The U.S. Senate Finance Committee passed a package of healthcare reforms that would restrict some pharmacy benefit manager practices and prevent Medicare patients from paying more for medications than insurers do. The legislation builds on PBM regulations approved by the panel in July. (STAT, U.S. SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE)

—Compiled by SNCJ Managing Editor KOREY CLARK