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Published on January 22, 2025
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Declares State of Emergency Ahead of Winter Storms, Ensures Early Prescription RefillsSource: Wikipedia/Government of Florida, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

As the Gulf states brace for winter, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis responded to the oncoming weather challenges by declaring a state of emergency. Issued on Monday, Executive Order 25-13 is set to streamline the process of obtaining necessary medications for Floridians amidst potential storm impacts. According to the Florida Department of Health, the order facilitates early prescription refills, including for controlled substances not listed in Schedule II, as long as certain criteria are met.

In an emergency, getting ahead of the game with medication can be critical, especially when services might be disrupted. Preparing the citizens, the Florida Department of Health, under the emergency order, allows pharmacies to give out early refills. However, as reported by the Florida Department of Health, Schedule II controlled substances are excluded from this provision. This move is to ensure that medicines remain accessible even if the local pharmacies shut down temporarily.

Compliance is not just encouraged but required, as a reminder was issued to all health insurers, managed care organizations, and other health entities by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. These groups must adhere to section 252.358, Florida Statutes, which mandates they oblige to refill prescriptions early when an executive order related to an emergency situation is in place.

According to the executive order, insurers must waive time restrictions on prescription refills, including electronic "refill too soon" notifications sent to pharmacies. This ensures that people residing in affected counties can get a minimum of a 30-day supply for their medications, regardless of when their prescription was last filled. Ensuring a continuity of care, despite when the prescription had most recently been filled, the mandate stays in effect until the executive order's expiry or its rescission, as noted by the Florida Department of Health's announcement.

The Florida Department of Health, focusing on the public's welfare, health, and safety, regularly provides information on enforcement, as well as professional, facility, and permit licensing via its Licensing and Regulation section. With the possibility of extreme weather disrupting everyday operations, this state of emergency declaration is a proactive step toward minimizing the adverse effects the community might face in terms of healthcare accessibility and continuity.