# Plain Language Summary: Prescription Freedom Act of 2023

This bill would eliminate the federal government's power to require that certain medications only be sold with a doctor's prescription. Right now, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) decides which drugs are safe enough to sell over-the-counter at pharmacies and which ones are so powerful or risky that they require a doctor's approval first. This bill would take away that federal authority completely, six months after it becomes law.

Once the federal requirement disappears, each state would get to make its own rules about which drugs need prescriptions and which don't. So a medication that requires a prescription in one state might be available without one in another state. This means pharmacists and drug companies would follow state laws instead of federal ones, and the rules could vary dramatically depending on where you live. For example, antibiotics, blood pressure medications, or pain relievers could potentially be sold differently across state lines.

There's one important exception: the bill keeps the federal government's authority over drugs used to end pregnancies, meaning abortion-related medications would still be controlled at the federal level even if other prescription requirements go away. This exception suggests the bill's main purpose is to shift prescription decisions from federal regulators to individual states, which could make some medications easier to access in some places while potentially creating confusion and safety concerns in others.

Prescription Freedom Act of 2023

Biggs, Andy

Prescription Freedom Act of 2023 This bill generally eliminates the authority of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to require that a drug be dispensed only with a prescription. However, the FDA may continue to require a prescription for any drug intended for terminating a pregnancy.