SESSION WATCH
Became law HOUSE · SESSION 2026 · CHAPTER 2026-4

No. CS/HB 697

Drug Prices and Coverage
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SPONSOR
Health & Human Services Committee; Kincart Jonsson
FILED BY
Jennifer Kincart Jonsson — District 49, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
Except as otherwise expressly provided in this act and except for this section, which shall take effect upon this act becoming a law, this act shall take effect July 1, 2026.

Filed under Insurance.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Drug Prices and Coverage ; Revises definition of term "pharmacy benefits plan or program" to exclude plan or program that exclusively serves PACE organization; requires contracts between pharmacy benefit managers & participating pharmacies to allow specified option in administrative appeal procedure; provides pharmacy benefit manager prohibited practices relating to pharmacies & pharmacists. APPROPRIATION: $30,901,933

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Protects pharmacies from below-cost drug reimbursement rates.

Pharmacy benefit managers may no longer force pharmacies to dispense drugs when the reimbursement rate falls below the pharmacy's actual acquisition cost.

PBM contracts must now allow pharmacies to file a single consolidated appeal for multiple claims involving the same drug within one calendar month.

The bill appropriates $30.9 million to the Department of Health to fund the AIDS Drug Assistance Program through June 30, 2026.

ADAP must distribute medications directly to eligible individuals and cannot provide services through the purchase of health insurance.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Pharmacy Benefit Manager Prohibited Practices majors. 626.8827(8)

AIProhibits PBMs from restricting pharmacies from declining to dispense drugs when reimbursement is below acquisition cost, and prohibits paying affiliated pharmacies more than independent ones.

“Prohibit or restrict a pharmacy or pharmacist from declining to dispense a drug if the reimbursement rate is less than the actual acquisition cost incurred or would be incurred by” bill text, line 113 →
§ 2 Consolidated Administrative Appeals moderates. 626.8825(3)(h)

AIRequires PBM appeal procedures to allow pharmacies to submit a single consolidated appeal for multiple claims of the same drug within a calendar month.

“The administrative appeal procedure must allow a pharmacy or pharmacist the option to submit a consolidated administrative appeal representing multiple adjudicated claims that” bill text, line 74 →
§ 3 ADAP Implementation and Reporting majors. 626.8827(10)

AIAppropriates $30.9M for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, mandates direct medication distribution rather than insurance purchase, and requires monthly detailed financial and utilization reports to legislative leadership.

“ADAP services may not be provided through or by the purchase of health insurance that includes coverage for HIV/AIDS medications but must be provided through the distribution of” bill text, line 128 →
§ 4 PACE Organization Exclusion moderates. 626.8825(1)(u)

AIExcludes plans that exclusively serve PACE organizations from the statutory definition of pharmacy benefits plan or program.

“The term excludes such a plan or program under chapter 440 or a plan or program that exclusively serves a PACE organization, as defined in s. 430.84(1).” bill text, line 48 →
TIMELINE
3/25/2026
Chapter No. 2026-4
3/24/2026
Approved by Governor
3/18/2026
Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
3/12/2026
Ordered engrossed, then enrolled
3/12/2026
CS passed as amended; YEAS 108, NAYS 0
3/12/2026
Amendment 664532 Concur
3/12/2026
Added to Senate Message List
3/10/2026
In Messages
3/10/2026
CS passed as amended; YEAS 38 NAYS 0 -SJ 742
3/10/2026
Read 3rd time -SJ 742
3/10/2026
Amendment(s) adopted (664532) -SJ 741
3/10/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 741
3/10/2026
Substituted for CS/CS/SB 1760 -SJ 741
3/10/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
3/10/2026
Withdrawn from Rules -SJ 741
3/5/2026
Received
3/5/2026
Referred to Rules
3/5/2026
In Messages
3/5/2026
CS passed; YEAS 108, NAYS 0
3/5/2026
Read 3rd time
3/5/2026
Added to Third Reading Calendar
3/5/2026
Read 2nd time
3/2/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/5/2026)
3/2/2026
Added to Second Reading Calendar
3/2/2026
Bill referred to House Calendar
2/26/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
2/26/2026
CS Filed
2/26/2026
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
2/26/2026
Reported out of Health & Human Services Committee
2/26/2026
Favorable with CS by Health & Human Services Committee
2/24/2026
Added to Health & Human Services Committee agenda
1/27/2026
Now in Health & Human Services Committee
1/27/2026
Reported out of Budget Committee
1/27/2026
Favorable by Budget Committee
1/23/2026
Added to Budget Committee agenda
1/21/2026
Now in Budget Committee
1/21/2026
Reported out of Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee
1/21/2026
Favorable by Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee
1/16/2026
Added to Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee agenda
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
12/16/2025
Now in Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee
12/16/2025
Referred to Health & Human Services Committee
12/16/2025
Referred to Budget Committee
12/16/2025
Referred to Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee
12/9/2025
Filed
39 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 626.8825
+58 / −0
s. 626.8827
+58 / −0
STAFF ANALYSES