THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Florida Public Employees’ Union Drops Opposition to Workers’ Comp Bill
May 27, 2010
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA published the following article on May 27, 2010:
The state’s public employees’ union Wednesday dropped its opposition to legislation aimed at cutting workers’ compensation costs for businesses by revamping prescription drug standards.
The switch came after union officials were contacted by Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink’s office. Sink, the leading Democratic candidate for governor, supports the legislation (HB 5603), which Gov. Charlie Crist has until Friday to act on.
“Given that we’ve seen two completely disagreeing analyses of the bill, we are going to trust the CFO’s office,” said Doug Martin, a spokesman for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
The state workers union is among a handful of organizations that wrote Crist, urging he veto the measure. Among them: the Florida Medical Association and the Florida Orthopedic Society, which warn it will prohibit doctors from giving medication directly to injured workers and make those hurt on the job pay drug costs before receiving insurance payments.
Sink’s office disputes these characterizations of the legislation, saying it is aimed at reducing costs by discouraging doctors from dispensing often costly, repackaged medication. It also does not require workers to pay upfront costs, officials said.
The legislation has been hailed by Associated Industries of Florida as a “huge victory for the business community.” Crist, though, on Tuesday said he had “concerns” with the bill.