House Bill No. 813 aims to enhance the prescribing, administering, and dispensing of FDA-approved drugs for off-label use by licensed healthcare professionals in Louisiana. The bill enacts R.S. 37:1704, which explicitly states that no healthcare professional licensing board or commission can prohibit or restrict these practices during a declared public health emergency. The term "off-label use" is defined within the bill as the use of a prescription drug for an indication not approved by the FDA, or for use in an age group, dosage, or route of administration that has not been sanctioned by the FDA.

Additionally, the bill retains existing laws regarding the licensure and regulation of healthcare professionals while clarifying that the Louisiana Department of Health is no longer included in the list of entities that can impose restrictions on off-label drug use. The amendments adopted by the House Committee on Health and Welfare and the House Floor further emphasize the importance of allowing healthcare professionals the flexibility to prescribe medications in a manner that best serves patients during public health emergencies.