HB510 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arnold MooneyRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

COVID-19, occupational licensing boards prohibited to take adverse action based on physician's recommended COVID-19 treatment, health care facilities and pharmacies required to fulfill patient's COVID-19 treatment request, cause of action provided

Summary

HB510 would protect physicians who recommend non-FDA-approved COVID-19 treatments, require patient consent, require pharmacies and health care facilities to provide off-label treatments, and create enforcement and immunity provisions.

What This Bill Does

The bill prohibits licensing boards from taking adverse action against doctors who recommend non-FDA-approved COVID-19 treatments if the doctor uses independent medical judgment and the patient signs written informed consent. It requires patients to sign a written informed consent form before receiving such treatments. It also requires pharmacies to fill prescriptions for non-FDA-approved COVID-19 treatments and health care facilities to provide off-label treatments upon patient request, and it creates civil remedies for violations and immunity for compliant entities.

Who It Affects

• Physicians licensed by Alabama licensing boards: protected from adverse actions for recommending non-FDA-approved COVID-19 treatments when they exercise medical judgment and obtain informed consent.
• Patients seeking COVID-19 treatments: may receive non-FDA-approved or off-label treatments with written informed consent; may bring civil actions if access is denied or rights are violated.
• Pharmacies and pharmacists: required to fill non-FDA-approved COVID-19 treatment prescriptions and are shielded from civil liability if they comply.
• Health care facilities (e.g., hospitals, nursing homes, clinics): required to provide off-label COVID-19 treatments upon patient request and receive immunity if they comply.
• Licensing boards, as entities: potential civil actions if they take adverse actions in violation of the bill; immune from liability when complying with the bill.

Key Provisions

• Section 1(b): Licensing boards cannot revoke/suspend/deny a physician's license solely for recommending a COVID-19 treatment not approved by the FDA if independent medical judgment is used and written informed consent is obtained.
• Section 1(c): Pharmacies shall not block access to a non-FDA-approved COVID-19 treatment solely because FDA approval is lacking for that use.
• Section 1(a) and 1(d): Establish definitions (including COVID-19, off-label use) and allow physicians and patients to pursue civil actions with specified remedies for violations.
• Section 1(e): Immunity from civil liability for pharmacies, health care facilities, and licensing boards that comply with the bill; physicians’ compliance is covered when the prescribing physician is licensed by the board.
• Section 2: Health care facilities must provide off-label COVID-19 treatments on patient request; facilities and individuals may be subject to injunctions, penalties, and reasonable fees for violations; off-label treatment recipients and facilities receive liability immunity.
• Section 3: Effective immediately upon governor's approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Covid-19