The Florida Department of Health has announced that, under the current state of emergency declared for Hurricane Milton, residents are allowed to receive early prescription refills. This measure is intended to help Floridians maintain access to necessary medications if pharmacies become temporarily unavailable due to the storm.
An early refill can include controlled substances unless the medication is listed in Schedule II under Chapter 893 of the Florida Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act. The department emphasized the importance of having enough prescriptions on hand during emergencies.
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation issued a reminder to health insurers, managed care organizations, and other health entities about compliance with section 252.358, Florida Statutes. This law allows for early prescription refills when a state of emergency is declared by the Governor and remains in effect until the executive order expires or is rescinded.
According to Executive Order 24-215 and section 252.358, licensed insurers and entities must waive time restrictions on prescription medication refills during certain conditions: when a person resides in a county under a hurricane warning from the National Weather Service, in a county declared under a state of emergency by executive order, or where local emergency operations centers have been activated. The waiver allows insureds or subscribers to obtain at least a 30-day supply of any prescription medication if authorized refills remain, regardless of when it was last filled.
This provision does not exempt policyholders from complying with other terms related to their prescription coverage policies. The waiver period may be extended by further emergency orders as needed.
The Florida Department of Health oversees licensing and regulation for healthcare practitioners and facilities across the state, aiming to protect public health and safety. The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation monitors insurance industry practices statewide; more information about its role can be found at www.floir.com or on X @FLOIR_comm.
