A bill signed into law by Gov. Mike Parson Tuesday will shield healthcare providers from losing their medical licenses when prescribing ivermectin or hydroxychloroquine, two medications that have .
The language was dealing with professional licensing regulations, and it was not highlighted in Parson鈥檚 news release announcing his decision to sign it and laying out its various provisions.
The bill stipulates that the act of 鈥渓awfully鈥� dispensing or prescribing ivermectin or hydroxychloroquine for human use cannot be cited as grounds for disciplinary action by the State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts or Board of Pharmacy.
Additionally, a pharmacist cannot contact the prescribing physician to dispute the efficacy of the medications, 鈥渦nless the physician or patient inquires of the pharmacist鈥� themselves about their effectiveness.
Despite opposition from some Democratic senators, Sen. Rick Brattin, R-Harrisonville, was successful in attaching the amendment to the bill in April.
Brattin said during Senate debate at the time that the proposal was necessary to ensure 鈥渢he weaponization of the board of healing arts does not occur with our physicians鈥� over the two medications that he said have become 鈥渆xtremely politicized.鈥�
Brattin, who is running for the Republican nomination in the 4th Congressional District primary, said he had heard from physicians who asked for such protections. In response to a rise in the drugs鈥� notoriety, advocacy groups of medical professionals against doctors spreading misinformation about COVID-19 treatments.
鈥淚 think that this is the kind of legislation to me that is very short-sighted,鈥� Sen. Jill Schupp, D-Creve Coeur, said in opposition to the provision.
Hydroxychloroquine, which is typically used to treat malaria or the autoimmune disease lupus, was promoted as a COVID-19 treatment by former President Donald Trump, .
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration , pointing to 鈥渟erious heart rhythm problems in patients with COVID-19鈥� who took the drug in combination with other medications.
The FDA has also to treat COVID-19. The drug can be used on livestock, and Missouri鈥檚 health department after receiving reports of people ingesting it to prevent a COVID-19 infection.
According , the Missouri Poison Center had managed at least 22 cases so far that year compared to 2 cases in 2020, 鈥渨here an individual intentionally has ingested a prescription product or a veterinary formulation not intended for humans use.鈥�
The provisions of the bill regarding ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine go into effect Aug. 28.
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