Alabama MGMA State Chapter Legislative Update
Originally Published: 2/13/25 & Updated on 6/5/25
1. 2024 Legislative Updates
- Legislation Passed in 2024:
- Senate Bill 72 - Prevents adverse action against a physician or advanced practice provider who prescribes or recommends off-label medical treatments. Passed 5/8/24
- Senate Bill 159 – Provides civil and criminal immunity for death or damage to an embryo provided to persons when providing or receiving services related to IVF. Passed 3/6/24
- House Bill 232 – Allows licensed physical therapists to conduct initial screenings of patients without a referral from providers. Passed 5//8/24
2. Legislation Effective January 1, 2025
- SB 240 – Department of Mental Health; Gives probate judges the power to authorize the involuntary commitment of individuals with co-occurring substance use disorders secondary to mental illness and determine the appropriate medical evaluation process for the respondent. It so established that mental health providers are not required to expand existing services unless they currently have the funds to do so.
- The Alabama Board of Nursing has established Nursing Support Technician Certification to bring a common scope of practice for the nursing assistant role and help with workforce shortages.
3. What to Watch for in 2025
Pending Legislation: Bills under consideration in 2025.
- HB 45/SB27 – Requires Alabama Medicaid to cover any noninvasive colorectal cancer screening test assigned to a grade A or B under the recommendations of the US Preventive Services Task Force.
- Passed and enacted during 2025 Legislative Session
- HB 242 – Requires Medicaid to cover rapid whole genome sequencing.
- Pending Action from Ways and Means Committee
- SB 43 – Prohibits health insurance companies from regulating what providers and pharmacists may tell patients about the cost of the treatment or medication they are receiving or from informing patients about alternative treatments or medications that may be lower in cost.
- Passed by both Senate and House. Awaiting action by the governor
- SB 58/SB 101 – Changes legal consent for medical treatment from 14 years of age to 18.
- SB 58 was indefinitely postponed. SB 101 was passed and enacted
- HB 177 – If employer-provided health insurance is available to the custodial or non-custodial parent, the Medicaid enrolled child must be enrolled in the employer provided health insurance.
- Bill Indefinitely Postponed
- SB 93 and SB 99 – Requires equal reimbursement to all pharmacies; Imposes restrictions and regulations on pharmacy benefit managers. SB 99 includes the ability to enforce these regulations.
- SB 93 and SB 99 were merged and amended into SB 252, which was passed and enacted.
- There are continued discussions regarding Medicaid expansion in Alabama. BC/BS has proposed ALLHealth which would provide private health insurance using Medicaid expansion funding.
- Late Session Proposed Bills updated 6/7/25
- SB 299 - This bill would define the term "stem cell therapy" to include the use of afterbirth placental perinatal stem cells or human cells, tissues, or cellular or tissue-based products, but not any treatment or research using human cells or tissues that were derived from a fetus or embryo after an abortion. This bill would permit a health care provider whose scope of practice includes stem cell therapy to perform stem cell therapy that is not approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), provided the health care provider gives the patient written notice about the nature, anticipated results, and recognized risks of the stem cell therapy and obtains written consent before performing the therapy.
- Pending Committee Action in Senate Healthcare Committee
- HB 278 – This bill would permit pharmacists to dispense Ivermectin without a prescription with standing orders from a healthcare provider.
- Pending Committee Action in House Healthcare Committee
- HB 374 – This bill would authorize a medical transport service to transport a patient who requires a stretcher in non-emergency medical circumstances. Currently only licensed ambulance services are allowed to transport patients who require a stretcher.
- Pending Committee Action in House Healthcare Committee
- HB 553 – This bill would authorize certified registered nurse practitioners to sign student athlete physical examination participation eligibility forms.
- Pending Committee Action in House Healthcare Committee
- SB 299 - This bill would define the term "stem cell therapy" to include the use of afterbirth placental perinatal stem cells or human cells, tissues, or cellular or tissue-based products, but not any treatment or research using human cells or tissues that were derived from a fetus or embryo after an abortion. This bill would permit a health care provider whose scope of practice includes stem cell therapy to perform stem cell therapy that is not approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), provided the health care provider gives the patient written notice about the nature, anticipated results, and recognized risks of the stem cell therapy and obtains written consent before performing the therapy.
4. Resources
Addendum
Medicaid Expansion: https://alabamareflector.com/2024/12/12/bcbs-of-alabama-proposes-state-insurance-program-using-medicaid-expansion-funds/