THE BILL ITSELF
CS/SB 844
Sickle Cell Disease Care Management and Treatment Continuing Education
ENROLLED
2026
Legislature CS for SB 844 2026844er
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An act relating to sickle cell disease care management
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and treatment continuing education; amending s.
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456.0301, F.S.; revising requirements for a continuing
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education course on prescribing controlled substances
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which health care practitioners are required to
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complete; providing an effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
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456.0301, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
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456.0301 Requirement for instruction on controlled
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substance prescribing.—
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(1)(a) The appropriate board shall require each person
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registered with the United States Drug Enforcement
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Administration and authorized to prescribe controlled substances
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pursuant to 21 U.S.C. s. 822 to complete a board-approved 2-hour
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continuing education course on prescribing controlled substances
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offered by a statewide professional association of physicians in
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this state that is accredited to provide educational activities
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designated for the American Medical Association Physician’s
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Recognition Award Category 1 Credit or the American Osteopathic
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Category 1-A continuing medical education credit as part of
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biennial license renewal. The course must include information on
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the current standards for prescribing controlled substances,
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particularly opiates; alternatives to these standards;
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nonpharmacological therapies; prescribing emergency opioid
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antagonists; and the risks of opioid addiction following all
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stages of treatment in the management of acute pain ; and the
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treatment of pain for patients with sickle cell disease . The
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course may be offered in a distance learning format and must be
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included within the number of continuing education hours
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required by law. The department may not renew the license of any
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prescriber registered with the United States Drug Enforcement
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Administration to prescribe controlled substances who has failed
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to complete the course. The course must be completed by January
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31, 2019, and at each subsequent renewal. This paragraph does
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not apply to a licensee who is required by his or her applicable
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practice act to complete a minimum of 2 hours of continuing
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education on the safe and effective prescribing of controlled
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substances.
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Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.