H.B. 631 Summary

• Permits patients diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2, its variants, or COVID-19 to use hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, ivermectin, budesonide, or other drugs/therapies deemed beneficial by their treating health care professional with informed consent.

• Prohibits boards of health, departments, medical boards, nursing boards, professional associations, health care facilities, pharmacies, and government entities from suppressing access to these drugs or penalizing health care professionals for prescribing them.

• Requires boards of health and state departments to enter into agreements with other entities to promote procurement and distribution of the listed alternative treatments.

• Allows health care professionals, patients, or their representatives to file mandamus actions to enforce compliance, with courts awarding attorney fees, court costs, and up to $100,000 in compensatory damages ($5,000 per business day of non-compliance).

• Names the act the "COVID-19 Health Care Professional-Patient Relationship Protection Act."