HB601 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

April WeaverSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Health care, requires health care practitioners to include information about licensure in advertising and in other communications with patients

Summary

HB 601 would require health care practitioners in Alabama to include accurate licensure information in advertising and to clearly communicate licensure to patients.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, the bill requires health care advertising to be free of deceptive information and to include the practitioner's licensure. Practitioners must conspicuously communicate their licensure to current and prospective patients either by wearing a visible ID badge showing their name and license type or by displaying a notice in the office and on the practice website listing each practitioner's name and license type. There are exceptions for certain care settings, existing badges can be used until replacement, and penalties for violations would be established with an effective date on the first day of the third month after passage.

Who It Affects

• Health care practitioners in Alabama (doctors, nurses, and other licensed providers) would be required to include licensure information in advertising and to communicate licensure to patients.
• Current and prospective patients seeking health care would have access to clear licensure information about practitioners, through badges or posted notices and website listings.

Key Provisions

• Advertisements for health care services must be free from deceptive or misleading information.
• Practitioners must conspicuously post and affirmatively communicate licensure to current and prospective patients via either: (a) wearing a visible identification badge or clothing showing the practitioner's name and license type, or (b) displaying a notice in the reception area and on the practice's website listing each practitioner's name and license type (minimum 93 square inches with letters at least 1 inch in height).
• Exceptions apply where wearing or displaying an identifier would interfere with care (e.g., certain mental health settings, operating rooms, sterile environments, nursing homes).
• Existing identification badges may continue to be used until replaced; new badges must meet the act's requirements.
• State boards and agencies may only establish penalties for violations and need not adopt new rules if current rules already meet the act's requirements.
• The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Health Care