CAPE CORAL, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order on Friday to help lower prescription drug prices for Floridians.

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“Florida continues to lead the nation in ensuring accountability in the health care industry and in introducing reforms to combat rising prescriptions costs,” said DeSantis. “This executive order requires accountability and transparency for pharmaceutical middlemen when doing business with the state, thereby reducing the upward pressure on prescription drug costs.”

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Officials said executive order 22-164 is also designed to drive transparency in prescription costs.

Watch DeSantis’ full news conference here:

The order looks to hold pharmacy benefits managers accountable when managing prescription drug benefits for insurance companies.

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Executive Order 22-164 will do the following:

“Prohibit spread pricing for all PBMs; prohibit reimbursement clawbacks for all PBMs; directs agencies to include data transparency and reporting requirements, including a review of all rebates, payments, and relationships between pharmacies, insurers, and manufacturers; and directs all impacted agencies to amend all contracts to the extent feasible with these same provisions.”

Officials said Florida has taken previous actions to lower the costs of prescription drugs for residents that continue to be stalled by the federal government.

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The state’s Canadian Prescription Drug Importation program has been under review by the FDA for nearly 600 days.

“For far too long leaders have chosen the path of inaction, rather than action, and fallen victim to a pharmaceutical system driven by drug companies rather than consumers,” said Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Simone Marstiller. “Fortunately, Governor DeSantis leads with principle, always putting Floridians first and today’s actions will further this commitment by providing insight into the FDA’s review process and all agency health care contracts through the end of the decade.”

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