HB79 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chip BrownRepresentative

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

State Board of Pharmacy and Employers, prohibited from disciplining pharmacists who recommend off-label medical treatments

Summary

HB79 would shield pharmacists who recommend or dispense off-label drug uses from disciplinary actions by the Board of Pharmacy, employers, or pharmacy benefit managers, and allow civil action if retaliation occurs, with an effective date of October 1, 2025.

What This Bill Does

HB79 prohibits the State Board of Pharmacy from suspending, revoking, or denying renewal of a pharmacist's license solely for recommending an off-label medical treatment or dispensing an off-label prescription. It also bars employers from terminating or disciplining pharmacists for the same reasons and creates a civil action for injunctive relief if retaliation occurs, including reinstatement, back pay, costs, and attorney fees. Additionally, pharmacy benefits managers are prohibited from retaliating against pharmacists or employing pharmacies for off-label actions, with similar remedies. The act defines off-label treatments and health care professionals and excludes controlled substances; it becomes effective on October 1, 2025.

Who It Affects

• Pharmacists: protected from licensing actions by the Board and from termination or discipline by employers or PBMs solely for off-label recommendations or dispensing.
• Employers, pharmacies, and pharmacy benefit managers: restricted from taking adverse actions or retaliating against pharmacists for off-label work and may face civil action and injunctive relief if they do.

Key Provisions

• Board of Pharmacy may not revoke, suspend, or fail to renew a pharmacist's license based solely on recommending an off-label medical treatment or dispensing an off-label drug prescription.
• An employer may not terminate, discipline, or take other adverse action against an employee pharmacist solely for off-label recommendations or dispensing; allows a civil action for injunctive relief (reinstatement, back pay, costs, attorney fees).
• A pharmacist who is terminated or disciplined for off-label activities may seek injunctive relief in court to remedy the action; court may order reinstatement and related remedies.
• Pharmacy benefits managers may not penalize or retaliate against a pharmacist or employing pharmacy for off-label actions, including contract terminations, breach actions, or audits under applicable law.
• Definitions of key terms (Board, Employer, Health Care Professional, Off-Label Medical Treatment, License) and scope clarifications (not applying to controlled substances).
• Effective date: October 1, 2025.

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

Subjects

Occupational Licensing Boards