FL H0559

Nursing home facilities may establish institutional formularies allowing pharmacists to make therapeutic substitutions (replacing a prescribed drug with a chemically different drug expected to have the same clinical effect) for residents

Facilities must form a committee including the medical director, director of nursing services, and a certified consultant pharmacist to develop the formulary and conduct quarterly compliance monitoring

Prescribers must authorize formulary use for each patient and may opt out for specific drugs, drug classes, or individual prescriptions by indicating "NO THERAPEUTIC SUBSTITUTION"

Residents or their legal representatives must provide informed consent and may refuse to participate in the formulary program without adverse consequences

Effective date: July 1, 2020