Proposed legislation filed by an Alabama lawmaker would allow pharmacists to dispense ivermectin without a prescription from a physician.

HB278, sponsored by Rep. Phillip Rigsby, R-Huntsville, says that in order for an individual to receive ivermectin without a prescription a physician would have to get a standing order approved by State Board of Pharmacy.

“A pharmacist may dispense ivermectin without a prescription to an individual who is 19 years of age or older, or to an unemancipated individual under 19 years of age upon written consent of the individual’s parent or legal guardian, pursuant to a standing order that has received the approval of the State Board of Pharmacy and is signed by a health care provider,” the bill reads.

The legislation defines a standing order as a prescription order that is not patient specific. Furthermore, the standing order would include a risk assessment process to be conducted on the requestor of ivermectin.

The process would include a plan for dealing with adverse effects of Ivermectin, instructions for using the drug, guidance on follow-up care and a form for the pharmacist to document the protocol completion and the dosage given to the individual.

Ivermectin is an anti-parasitic drug used to treat infections of parasitic worms. There are various products meant for both animals and humans.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, ivermectin was touted among anti-vaccination circles as a potential cure for the deadly virus, However, scientific and medicinal organizations routinely denounced ivermectin as a treatment for COVID-19 and warned against taking it.

The FDA never approved ivermectin as a treatment for COVID-19.

The Alabama Department of Public Health also joined to issue guidance against taking the anti-parasitic drug stating, “ivermectin is not an anti-viral drug and is approved for humans only at specific doses for specific condition.”

Rigsby’s legislation also restricts the State Board of Pharmacy from reprimanding a pharmacist or health care provider for certain reasons if they distribute ivermectin after obtaining a standing order.

The bill states that a pharmacist is protected from disciplinary action under these three scenarios:

• The pharmacist failed in good faith to correctly interpret and follow the standing order upon dispensing ivermectin.
• There was a defect in the standing order which the pharmacist relied on when dispensing ivermectin.
• The pharmacist refuses to dispense ivermectin upon the request of an individual, even in the case of an existing standing order for Ivermectin signed by a health care provider and authorized by the State Board of Pharmacy covering the pharmacist’s employer or practice.

AL.com left a message with Rigsby seeking comment on the bill.

A similar bill to allow access to ivermectin without a prescription was filed by an Arkansas legislator about two weeks ago.