Birmingham, Ala. – Today (March 28th, 2022) the Alabama Policy Institute (API) announced the addition of two bills, Senator Orr’s SB312 and Representative Sorrell’s HB130, to its legislative scorecard–the API Watchlist–as Key ‘Yes’ Votes.
SB312 would protect physicians from adverse action from the state’s occupational licensing boards based on their COVID-19 treatment plans.
In the ever-changing world of COVID-19, physicians should be free to act in the best interest of their patients without fear of getting their medical licenses revoked. Senator Orr’s bill would ensure Alabama’s doctors maintain their freedom.
HB130, meanwhile, would eliminate the burdensome Certificate of Need (CON) program. Many states have abolished their programs in light of evidence that such measures do not decrease healthcare costs. In fact, the federal policy that incentivized CON programs was reversed by a bipartisan Congress just a few short years after its implementation.
“It is clear that the CON process has passed its expiration date, with many states having eliminated these failed regulations years ago,” Parker Snider, API Director of Social Policy said. “Our state’s CON laws should be fully repealed by the Alabama Legislature this year.”
Learn more about the API Watchlist at alabamapolicy.org/watchlist.