Republican Rep. Shane Abbott wants the state to pay less for prescription medications to serve Medicaid patients.

Abbott has filed a bill (HB 657) that would require drug manufacturers to sell certain medications to Medicaid pharmacies at discounts available under the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program.

His bill would apply to medications on the Medicaid preferred drug list that are covered under 340B, which includes most commonly prescribed medicines as well as those for chronic illnesses and diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, cancer and diabetes.

If passed, the measure would reduce costs for the state by lowering the cost of drugs purchased for Medicaid patients.

Under the bill, the state would essentially be guaranteed to pay lower prices. It includes language that would require drug manufacturers, if they sell a medication to a Medicaid pharmacy at a price higher than the 340B Drug Pricing Program discount, to pay a rebate to the state to comply with the negotiated price.

The 340B program is part of federal legislation requiring manufacturers to sell discounted prescription drugs to certain health care organizations. Passed in 1992 as part of the Public Health Service Act, it does not directly require the reduced costs for Medicaid.

Abbott’s legislation would ensure that drugs purchased for use among Medicaid recipients would receive the same discounts under the federal pricing program.

If passed, the bill would take effect Jan. 1, 2026. Abbott expects companion legislation in the Senate soon. He doesn’t anticipate any partisan squabbles, either.

“This is a nonpartisan issue where everyone looks at it and goes, ‘if we’re saving money we’re saving money,” said Abbott, himself a pharmacist.

He described 340B prices as “bottom of the barrel,” and said his bill would extend those lower prices to the state as it facilitates Medicaid, rather than only applying to drug prices for those without insurance.

While he acknowledged the prescription drug industry will no doubt push back against his bill, Abbott said it is a potential huge cost savings to taxpayers, though he also noted it would be up to state health officials to determine exactly how much the legislation would save.

“340B pricing is typically always going to be the cheapest price,” Abbott said. “So I’m going to hold drug manufacturers accountable to the Florida taxpayers to make sure we’re getting the cheapest prices out there.”

He said the “long-term goal is to put several millions of taxpayer dollars back into” the state’s general revenue fund.

While the measure is expected, if passed, to save the state — and by proxy, taxpayers — money, Medicaid recipients would not notice a difference. Medicaid patients already pay reduced or no-cost fees for prescription medications.

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The Donald Trump administration’s proposal to cut half of federal workers at the nation’s housing agency is targeting employees who support disaster recovery, rental subsidies, discrimination investigations and first-time homebuyers, according to two documents obtained by The Associated Press.

More than a dozen programs within the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) portfolio would be affected by the loss of some 4,000 positions detailed in the documents, raising concerns among former HUD officials and housing advocates who say a skeletal staff could slow or even stall the department’s critical work.

HUD spokesperson Kasey Lovett on Thursday said the leaked documents “should not be taken as final” as staffing is evaluated throughout the agency. The documents, which aren’t clearly dated but were circulated this week, include total staffing numbers, expected resignations, as well as a projected “Day 120 Headcount” and reduction percentage of staff at individual HUD offices.

Such dramatic staffing cuts are in line with the administration’s broader push to gut government spending, with HUD Secretary Scott Turner in recent days touting his new Department of Government Efficiency task force inspired by billionaire Elon Musk while also announcing $1.9 billion in “misplaced funds” as well as $260 million identified as “wasteful contracts.”

“HUD is following direction from the administration while also ensuring the department continues to deliver on its critical functions, mission to serve rural, tribal and urban communities and statutory responsibilities,” Lovett said in a statement.

Here’s a look at some of the significant staffing cuts under consideration and how it could impact HUD’s most wide-reaching work:

Disaster relief

The Office of Community Planning and Development — which the documents propose cutting by 84% of its staff — is the arm of HUD that helps repair homes and infrastructure after natural disasters, administering $1.65 billion sent to North Carolina after Hurricane Helene.

It also oversees homelessness initiatives and the Community Development Block Grant that funnels billions of federal dollars to local governments for community development programs, such as libraries or affordable housing.

Staff across HUD offices also answer questions, offer guidance and technical support, helping communities navigate federal rules and plan, develop and manage projects.

The proposed cuts outlined in the documents would reduce the office from 936 employees to just 150.

“That would lead to significant delays in funding getting out to communities nationwide,” said Ann Oliva, who worked as a HUD official for a decade and is now CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness.

“We’ve already heard from programs that have said, ‘We are going to go ahead and pause taking new folks for right now until we understand what’s happening to our funding,’” Oliva said.

Lovett said “disaster relief efforts will not be impacted” in an email, but did not elaborate.

Rental assistance

At the Office of Public and Indian Housing, which facilitates rental assistance subsidies for more than 3.5 million households and supports public housing for roughly 1 million, the headcount could be slashed by half in the coming months, from 1,529 employees to 765 people, according to the documents.

Georgi Banna, General Counsel for the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, said there’s been lots of questions but little information from the administration on how exactly any reduction in staff will be carried out and what the plan will be for HUD’s work if there are mass layoffs.

Banna said cuts to Public and Indian Housing staff could slow down payments for the Section 8 vouchers program that provides rental assistance to millions of low-income people.

The tenants themselves have protections as long as they pay their portion of the rent to the landlord per their lease agreements, but they could ultimately be displaced if landlords quit the voucher program altogether over any breach of contract.

“This program only works well when landlords are involved,” Banna said. “Without landlords, this program can’t exist.”

First-time homebuyers

The Office of Housing, which could face a 44% cut in staff, provides counseling for first-time homebuyers and mortgage insurance, which makes it easier for middle- and lower-income Americans to qualify for a home loan through the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).

The loss of over 1,000 employees could slow down those opportunities for homeownership, said Antonio Gaines, who’s worked at the department for over two decades and is president of AFGE National Council 222, which represents HUD workers.

“There are going to be consequences all the way across the board,” Gaines said.

On X, the department said it will prioritize “the critical role FHA plays in the mortgage market.”

Housing discrimination

As the enforcer of the nation’s fair housing laws, HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity could see hundreds of employees eliminated, including the administrative staff that investigates discrimination complaints.

“They are struggling to do some of the basic functions of the agency,” said Shamus Roller, Executive Director of the National Housing Law Project.

The proposal to trim the department from 572 employees down to 134 people would mean a nearly 77% reduction to the program — the type of bone-deep cut that many housing advocates had long expected as part of the Trump administration’s crusade against diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

Though Turner has previously committed to upholding the Fair Housing Act, which includes a statutory mandate for HUD to fight discrimination, his administration can remake how the agency carries out the spirit of the law. On Thursday, Turner said on X that HUD had cancelled $4 million in DEI contracts.

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Republished with permission of The Associated Press.

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The Republican Party of Florida has sent a cease-and-desist letter to a political committee promoting Republicans Brian Hodgers and Debbie Mayfield.

MAGA Florida sent out mailers this week resembling voter guides that bore, among other images, the logo for the state party.

“It has come to our attention that a direct mail piece purporting to be from your political committee was recently mailed to voters in Brevard County using the name and logo of the RPOF,” reads a letter from RPOF counsel Ben Gibson. “This was done without approval, permission or authorization of the RPOF.”

The mailer immediately drew attention for appearing to reflect support for the candidates from several GOP leaders. In addition to the committee name borrowing the MAGA branding of President Donald Trump’s campaign, it shows pictures of Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis, and also has a logo for the Brevard Republicans.

Notably, Florida just instituted a new law restricting outside groups from issuing voter guides that appear to be from parties within 30 days of an election.

But the recent flyer hit mailboxes more than a month out from Special Elections in House District 32, where Hodgers is running in an April 1 Republican Primary to succeed Mayfield, and in Senate District 19, where Mayfield is a candidate in a Republican Primary the same day.

The political committee behind the mailers only formed on Jan. 31, listing its nature as the “Promotion of Conservative Values in the Florida Legislative & Local Elected Officials.” It is chaired by Matt Langston, a Republican political consultant based in Texas. The committee also lists Samuel Elliott as its Treasurer. Elliott notably has chaired another committee working with Russell Doster, father to Hodgers’ Campaign Manager, Brett Doster.

Hodgers told Florida Politics he had no communication with MAGA Florida, and had not personally seen the mailers.

“I have no knowledge of it,” Hodgers said of the committee. He also said as a practice, he does not endorse candidates in other races.

Party officials said they allow nobody to use logos and party branding without permission.

“You, and anyone acting in concert with you, are to immediately cease and desist from these unlawful activities, including but not limited to distributing any mailers or other campaign materials with the RPOF name, abbreviation, or logo,” Gibson’s letter states.

Officials in Mayfield’s campaign said they were unaware of the mailer until a voter in HD 32 sent a picture of the piece when it landed in their mailbox on Thursday.

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