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Lawmakers press regulators after reports some pharmacies refused hydroxychloroquine prescriptions; boards say no statewide ban
Summary
Legislators raised multiple reports that some chain pharmacies have refused to fill hydroxychloroquine prescriptions for COVID‑19 even when written by a physician. Pharmacists’ association and medical board officials said there’s no Arkansas ban and urged pharmacists and prescribers to communicate; ADH reiterated that major national clinical bodies recommend against hydroxychloroquine for prevention or treatment of COVID‑19 outside trials.
The committee closed its agenda with a prolonged discussion of reports that retail pharmacies, particularly corporate chains, had refused to fill hydroxychloroquine prescriptions written by physicians for COVID‑19 treatment.
John Vinson, CEO of the Arkansas Pharmacists Association, told lawmakers his organization has been actively communicating with pharmacists across the state and that there is no statewide ban on hydroxychloroquine. He said independent pharmacies generally continued to fill prescriptions but acknowledged confusion persisting in some corporate pharmacy settings; the association has run webinars, guidance and outreach for pharmacists.
Amy Embree, executive director of the Arkansas State Medical Board, said the board has received inquiries but no formal complaints alleging an outright prohibition on physician prescribing. She and board counsel said physicians retain authority to prescribe within their medical judgment and that the board had not issued a directive forbidding prescriptions of hydroxychloroquine.
ADH’s Dr. Jennifer Dillehay reminded members that major professional guideline bodies — the National Institutes of Health, the American College of Physicians and the Infectious Disease Society of America — convened review panels and recommended against hydroxychloroquine for either prevention or treatment of COVID‑19 outside clinical trials. ADH said guidance reflects available evidence and panels’ risk/benefit assessments; ADH staff said they would confer with their leadership about clarifying public guidance and communications.
Lawmakers requested clearer public guidance so prescribers, pharmacists and patients are not left uncertain. Several members said the issue has become politicized and urged regulators to make the rules or guidance unambiguous and ensure patients with chronic, established indications (for example, lupus) do not suffer shortages.
