Cutrona Sponsors Bill to Halt State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy's Ban of Hydroxychloroquine

State Rep. Al Cutrona (R-Canfield) announces that he has signed on as the joint sponsor of legislation to stop the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy’s decision to halt the use of hydroxychloroquine in order to treat COVID-19.  The original memo from the Board stated the rule would go into effect on Thursday, July 30.

“It’s essential to protect the jobs of our physicians and what they determine must be prescribed to treat their patients’ illnesses,” said Cutrona.

Cutrona’s legislation will prohibit the Ohio Pharmaceutical Board from preventing the prescription and use of approved medications or pharmaceuticals, including hydroxychloroquine, for off-label treatment purposes and use when prescribed by a licensed physician or other medical personnel authorized by law to prescribe for such off label purposes and use.

While the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy rescinded their decision after large backlash, Stephen Hann, commissioner of the Food and Drug Association, stated that the use of hydroxychloroquine was "between a patient and their doctor."

“While the decision has appeared to have been reversed, this is an issue that needs to be addressed moving forward as future decisions surrounding certain prescriptions could be vulnerable,” said Cutrona.

Hydroxychloroquine is an arthritis drug that is also used to prevent malaria. However, during the pandemic, individuals throughout the U.S. have used it to prevent worsening symptoms caused by COVID-19.