Relating to the prescribing and dispensing authority of practitioners

This bill relates to prescribing and dispensing authority by practitioners. The bill prohibits any health-related professional board under Code chapter 147 (general provisions, health-related professions) that licenses a prescribing practitioner and any employer of a prescribing practitioner from restricting the prescribing authority of a prescribing practitioner during a public health disaster in a way that acts as a deterrent for the practitioner to use a medication or treatment in accordance with the practitioner’s best professional judgment. The bill also provides that any restriction by an employer of a prescribing practitioner that is prohibited under the bill, whether or not documented by the employer as part of a contract, agreement, or employee handbook, by an amendment to any such document, or by any other means, is unenforceable and shall not be the basis for any disciplinary action by the employer. The bill defines “prescribing practitioner” and “public health disaster” for the purposes of the bill. The bill also provides that the prescribing of ivermectin or hydroxychloroquine by a physician for the treatment of COVID-19 shall not be grounds for licensee discipline.