OSMA's Ohio Legislature Update

HB 193 - Mandatory e-prescribing of Schedule II drugs: On June 1, House Bill 193, sponsored by Rep. Al Cutrona (R-Canfield) and Rep. Gail Pavliga (R-Portage County) passed in the Senate and has been signed into law by the Governor. This proposal requires Schedule II controlled substances to be prescribed electronically, with several specific exceptions added to the bill that OSMA advocated for on behalf of our members. This bill has a delayed effective date and OSMA will communicate additional information to providers when the provisions officially become law.

HB 598 - Abortion “trigger” ban: OSMA recently provided written interested party testimony to the House Government Oversight Committee detailing several concerns with House Bill 598, sponsored by Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland). OSMA has policy to neither promote nor oppose legislative proposals related to the legality of abortion procedures; however, separate OSMA policy dictates that OSMA opposes legislation that criminalizes or otherwise penalizes any medical procedure that is considered a standard of care. HB 598 includes criminal penalties for what are considered appropriate standards of care, and provisions which would allow the State Medical Board to revoke a physician’s license to practice if found guilty of performing, inducing, or promoting a certain medical procedure. OSMA will continue to monitor the issue when legislators return to the Statehouse.

SB 336 - Ban on use of indoor tanning services for minors: OSMA has been supporting House Bill 159, which would ban the use of indoor tanning services by minors in Ohio. Its companion bill, Senate Bill 336, was recently introduced, and is sponsored by Sen. Terry Johnson (R-McDermott), who is also a physician. The bill had its first hearing (for sponsor testimony) in the Senate Health Committee, and OSMA will continue to work in partnership with the Ohio Dermatological Association to support this issue in both chambers of the legislature this fall.

HB 608 - Biomarker testing: At the end of May, OSMA provided supportive testimony for House Bill 608 to the House Insurance Committee. This legislation, sponsored by Rep. Andrea White (R-Kettering) and Rep. Thomas West (D-Canton) would require state-regulated health insurance plans, including Medicaid, to provide coverage for biomarker testing when medically appropriate. OSMA is encouraging support for HB 608 to help Ohioans diagnosed with cancer access improved quality of life and reduced treatment costs.

HB 451 - White-bagging: OSMA continues to support House Bill 451, sponsored by Rep. Gayle Manning (R-North Ridgeville) and Rep. Scott Oelslager (R-North Canton), as part of coalition including numerous other medical organizations. The bill’s intent is to ensure patient safety, promote better health outcomes, and save patients higher cost-sharing responsibilities. As a reminder, this legislation would prohibit a health benefit plan from requiring that physician-administered drugs be dispensed by a pharmacy or affiliated pharmacy as a condition of coverage, limiting coverage when such drugs are not dispensed by a pharmacy or affiliated pharmacy, if the drug is otherwise covered under the health benefit plan or pharmacy benefit plan, or covering such drugs with higher cost-sharing if dispensed in a setting other than a pharmacy.