Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

At the Capitol: Drug Treatment, ‘Biosimilars,’ PIP

The capitol buildings in Tallahassee
The Florida Channel
Leon County Judge John Cooper on June 30, 2022, in a screen grab from The Florida Channel.

A bill that sets out to improve the way Florida deals with non-violent drug offenders would provide  reentry and treatment programs, the Miami HeraldNaked Politics blog reports. The bill is known as “Smart Justice” and inmates who are serving the last three years of their sentence would be eligible.

In other legislative news, a bill that would set strict standards for generic drugs that are made from human and animal material cleared the House Health Quality Subcommittee Committee, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reports. The so-called “biosimilars” aren’t even available in the United States yet, but they could be a lower-cost alternative to name brands such as Humira, Herceptin and Avastin, according to the Herald-Tribune.

Meanwhile, Senate President Dan Gaetz is expressing frustration over how little has changed since lawmakers passed a bill last session to overhaul parts of the personal injury protection system, the Associated Press reports. Gaetz says he’s disappointed that drivers aren’t seeing any savings in their PIP premiums, while industry analysts say it’s too early to see those results.

Originally founded in December 2006 as an independent grassroots publication dedicated to coverage of health issues in Florida, Health News Florida was acquired by WUSF Public Media in September 2012.