This bill amends the Right to Try Act to broaden the scope of eligible patients and the types of illnesses that can be treated under the act. It introduces the term "qualifying severe illness," defined as a chronic and debilitating condition, and modifies the existing definition of "terminal illness" to include these qualifying conditions. The bill updates the definitions of "eligible patient" and "physician," and introduces new terms such as "individualized investigational treatment" and "telehealth prescreening." Notably, it removes the requirement for patients to be classified as "eligible," allowing any patient with a qualifying severe illness to access investigational treatments.

Furthermore, the bill clarifies the responsibilities and protections for manufacturers, healthcare providers, and facilities involved in providing investigational drugs, biologics, or devices. It specifies that manufacturers may provide these treatments without compensation and outlines the conditions under which healthcare providers and facilities are protected from liability when treating patients with qualifying severe illnesses. The bill also allows patients diagnosed with such conditions to petition the superior court for injunctive relief and reasonable attorney's fees against regulatory authorities that violate the provisions of this chapter. Additionally, it permits telehealth prescreenings for patients with qualifying severe illnesses, regardless of their location. The act is set to take effect upon passage, with indeterminable fiscal impacts on state and local expenditures.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 126-Z:1, 126-Z:6, 126-Z:8
As Amended by the House: 126-Z:1, 126-Z:6, 126-Z:8
HB1735 text: 126-Z:1, 126-Z:6, 126-Z:8