Three new laws in Florida will be effective on January 1st, 2017. Two of those laws involve accessibility to pharmaceuticals, while the other deals with financial institutions being allowed to establish a venue or agent for services of process.
SB 422: Coverage for Opioids
There are two kinds of opioid painkiller drug products addressed in this law’s language: abuse-deterrent labels, and those without them. Abuse-deterrent labeling is placed on a controlled substance with approval from the FDA to claim that drug is expected to thwart prescription drug abuse.
SB 422 states that health insurance policies which cover opioid painkillers cannot require the use of non-labeled opioid products over those products with these labels. Furthermore, they can impose the same requirement for labeled painkillers, only if insurance policies possess a pre-authorization requirement for opioid painkillers without the abuse-deterrent labeling.
SB 938: Sale of Dextromethorphan
This law prohibits manufacturers, distributors, retailers or its employees from selling a drug product with dextromethorphan to minors. This ingredient is found in many cough syrups, such as NyQuil and Robitussin, which provides a high to those who abuse the product.
Those presumed to be between the ages of 18 and 25 need to show identification. Those who sell to minors will be imposed a civil citation of up to $100 for each infraction.
If you are arrested and charged with a drug crime in Florida, contact our Orlando criminal defense lawyer at The Wiseman Law Firm for a free consultation today. More than 15 years of legal experience on your side!