It’s that time of year.  People are scrambling around, deciding what they want to give and what they want to get.  Brand new packages are being wrapped up and filed away.  Excitement and tension fill the air. Everyone can’t wait for the big day; but in this season that big day doesn’t happen until the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March.  But it’s never too early to start getting ready, right?  In fact, the Florida Legislature is currently in session, drafting and filing bills that the sponsors hope will be considered in March and will become law in 2016.  And as usual, health care is on a lot of legislative wish lists.  Although all of these bills are subject to significant revision, and some may never make it out of a subcommittee, here’s a sneak peek of some of the proposed health care legislation (without editorial – for now). Scope of Practice Expansion Three categories of health care professionals may see significant expansion of the scope of their practice. Both Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants would gain the right to prescribe controlled substances pursuant to Senate Bill 676.  Most of the details about specific medications and dosages is left to an administrative committee, but the bill seems to anticipate broad authority.  The bill also adds references to ARNPs and PAs throughout the Florida Statutes, indicating a willingness to accept these professionals into a significant role in the delivery of care.  Additionally, SB 572 would add PAs and ARNPs to the list of providers who can certify that an individual meets Baker Act criteria to justify a patient’s involuntarily confinement for mental health reasons. Pharmacists would also see an expansion of the duties permitted by their license under SB 692.  This bill would allow Consulting Pharmacists and Doctors of Pharmacy to provide medical management services, patient health and wellness assessments, counseling, and referral services related to medications and other health care services.  The pharmacists would be able to order labs, diagnostic and clinical testing and initiate, modify, discuss, and administer medications in collaboration with other health care providers.  Most significantly, the pharmacists would be able to charge for these services separately from their dispensing activities. Read more at Florida Healthcare Law Firm Blog.