Email Insights: Many regulations have been waived to help fight COVID-19

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Law enforcement officials applaud after President Donald Trump signed an executive order on police reform, in the Rose Garden of the White House, Tuesday, June 16, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

The anti-tax group, Americans for Tax Reform, is a group that administers the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, a written promise by legislators and candidates for office that commits them to oppose any effort to increase income taxes on individuals and businesses. This group recently conducted an analysis of regulations that were waived or relaxed due to the coronavirus pandemic. They have outlined in an email the findings of their review of waived or suspended regulations pertaining to Alabama. 

State and local governments across the country have wisely suspended regulations to help fight the coronavirus. Americans for Tax Reform has compiled a list of 725 waived regulations which can be found here.
 
Many of these rules and regulations were not necessary in the first place, given their tendency to reduce innovation and access to care, not to mention their restriction on American liberty.
 
Below is a list of suspended rules and regulations from the state of Alabama. If you have another example to add, please send it to ideas@atr.org.
 
 
“Officials in Alabama have signed an emergency order to allow for the sale of alcoholic beverages curbside at licensed businesses in the state.” – WBRC (3/17/20)
 
 
“Due to the ongoing threat of coronavirus, the Alabama Board of Pharmacy is allowing pharmacists to process emergency refills on essential medications.” – WHNT (3/16/20) 
 
 
“Licensed healthcare facility (LHF)-based NP practice allows collaboration with the Chief Medical Officer or designee, which may be in specific patient locations within the hospital such as Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit or elsewhere in the facility. Allows for the CMO or designee to have unlimited collaborations. A facility can have an unlimited number of CRNP/CNM. An application is not required as the LHF will perform record keeping for this. There is no fee associated with the LTF approval during this crisis period.” – Office of Governor Kay Ivey (4/2/20)
 
 
“NPs authorized to prescribe from a facility-approved formulary and perform all skills authorized in the facility protocols within the scope of the NP’s education and training. (controlled substance prescribing requires DEA registration through the ABME). The facility is authorized to develop related CRNP/CNM protocols supportive of patient care, based on the scope of practice for a CRNP/CNM.” – Office of Governor Kay Ivey (4/2/20)
 
 
“To allow expedited licensures and/or temporary permits for the practice of pharmacy, nursing, and medicine in Alabama by individuals in possession of active, unencumbered licenses in other states…” – Office of Governor Kay Ivey (4/2/20)
 
 
“The State Health Planning and Development Agency and, as appropriate, the Statewide Health Coordinating Council and the Certificate of Need Review Board, is hereby authorized and directed to promulgate emergency rules to provide for temporary waivers to the Certificate of Need process to permit new services, facilities, and other resources needed for the treatment of patients affected by… COVID-19… ” – Office of Governor Kay Ivey (4/2/20)
 
 
“Notaries in Alabama who are licensed attorneys or operating under the supervision of licensed attorneys may notarize signatures through videoconferencing programs and confirm the signatures of witnesses who participate virtually through videoconferencing as though they were physically present at the signing.” – Office of Governor Kay Ivey (3/26/20)
 
 
“I hereby delegate to the Commissioner of Revenue the authority to postpone the April 15, 2020, due date for the payment of the following state taxes until July 15, 2020 for any “person,” as that term is defined in Ala. Code…” – Office of Governor Kay Ivey (3/26/20)
 
 
“The licensure period applicable to emergency medical services personnel and provider services is hereby extended for the duration of the current state of emergency.” – Office of Governor Kay Ivey (3/26/20)