Our legislative priority for the 2012 and 2013 Florida Legislative Sessions was to secure legislation that would ensure stronger patient protections for Floridians. We focused on the following three issues with access to treatment.
Step Therapy
In managed medical care, step therapy – also referred to as fail first – is an approach to prescribing medication that requires a patient to fail on another drug first before they can receive the one their doctor would like to prescribe. In some situations, patients may experience this, or if they changed managed care plans, the patient may have already tried the fail first drug, but they must go through step therapy again on their new plan to get the medication they need.
Step Therapy
In managed medical care, step therapy – also referred to as fail first – is an approach to prescribing medication that requires a patient to fail on another drug first before they can receive the one their doctor would like to prescribe. In some situations, patients may experience this, or if they changed managed care plans, the patient may have already tried the fail first drug, but they must go through step therapy again on their new plan to get the medication they need.
Continuity of Care
A patient could have been on a medication successfully, but when the managed care plan or formulary is changed, they don’t have access to the same medication. Patients need the medication that works for them and should not have to endure difficulties when they were forced to switch treatments. Those with epilepsy, for example, are very sensitive to the medication they take. Ultimately, doctors need to be able to make the decision about which medication is the best for each patient.
A patient could have been on a medication successfully, but when the managed care plan or formulary is changed, they don’t have access to the same medication. Patients need the medication that works for them and should not have to endure difficulties when they were forced to switch treatments. Those with epilepsy, for example, are very sensitive to the medication they take. Ultimately, doctors need to be able to make the decision about which medication is the best for each patient.
Prior Authorization (PA)
Providers endure unnecessary administrative burdens; managed care plans should ensure that the prior authorization process is readily accessible and that patients are guaranteed access to their prescription while the request is being processed. PA provides a clear path for patients to get the medication they need. Many patients would benefit from being able to get their medications while their request is being processed, which would ensure continuity of care.
Providers endure unnecessary administrative burdens; managed care plans should ensure that the prior authorization process is readily accessible and that patients are guaranteed access to their prescription while the request is being processed. PA provides a clear path for patients to get the medication they need. Many patients would benefit from being able to get their medications while their request is being processed, which would ensure continuity of care.
2012 Legislative Session
Moore Communications Group worked closely with coalition members throughout the 2012 Florida Legislative Session on behalf of patients who need better access to treatment.
• Created the Patient Access for Florida coalition and secured influential, statewide organizations to be actively involved.
• Coordinated a statewide letter for coalition members to sign that was hand delivered to each Florida Senate member and key Florida House of Representatives members.
• Created a Facebook, Twitter and account for the coalition to engage with social media, as well as provide members with a way to connect on this issue.
• Secured key earned media coverage, which reached an estimated 1.2 million+ Floridians.
• Coordinated committee meeting testimony and legislative visits for more than a dozen different advocate organizations across the state.
• Activated coalition members to write letters, make calls, and deliver thank you flyers and opinion editorials to legislators.
• Recorded videos of coalition members speaking about the importance of this legislation.
• Designed and placed a full-page ad in the Tallahassee Democrat thanking members for their support of patient protections during the last week of the 2012 session.
• Secured key earned media coverage, which reached an estimated 1.2 million+ Floridians.
• Coordinated committee meeting testimony and legislative visits for more than a dozen different advocate organizations across the state.
• Activated coalition members to write letters, make calls, and deliver thank you flyers and opinion editorials to legislators.
• Recorded videos of coalition members speaking about the importance of this legislation.
• Designed and placed a full-page ad in the Tallahassee Democrat thanking members for their support of patient protections during the last week of the 2012 session.
We garnered key earned media surrounding the issue, which reached an estimated 1.2 million+ Floridians.
• The president of the Interamerican College of and Surgeons, Dr. Rene Rodriguez, wrote an opinion editorial that printed in the Tallahassee Democrat and the Tampa Tribune, both of which were delivered to legislative targets.
• The deputy director of advocacy for Florida Legal Services, Anne Swerlick, wrote an opinion editorial that printed in the Tallahassee Democrat, Tampa Tribune, The News-Press and The Gainesville Sun.
• The president of the Interamerican College of and Surgeons, Dr. Rene Rodriguez, wrote an opinion editorial that printed in the Tallahassee Democrat and the Tampa Tribune, both of which were delivered to legislative targets.
• The deputy director of advocacy for Florida Legal Services, Anne Swerlick, wrote an opinion editorial that printed in the Tallahassee Democrat, Tampa Tribune, The News-Press and The Gainesville Sun.
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This full-page ad ran in the Tallahassee Democrat during the last week of the 2012 session thanking members for their support of patient protections.
2013 Legislative Session
Moore Communications Group worked closely with coalition members throughout the 2013 session on behalf of patients who need better access to treatment.
• Coordinated a statewide letter for coalition members to sign that was hand delivered to each Florida Senate member and key House members.
• Engaged through social media to provide coalition members and patients with another way to connect on this issue.
• Created detailed and concise patient testimonial flyers for circulation to legislators.
• Coordinated a statewide letter for coalition members to sign that was hand delivered to each Florida Senate member and key House members.
• Engaged through social media to provide coalition members and patients with another way to connect on this issue.
• Created detailed and concise patient testimonial flyers for circulation to legislators.
Outcome
During the 2012 and 2013 Florida Legislative Sessions, we built the foundation for legislation to be passed ensuring better access to treatment for patients in Florida. We find that sometimes it takes several years to get legislation passed, and Moore Communications Group is committed to continuing to fight alongside Patient Access for Florida coalition members and patients in future sessions of the Florida State Legislature.