In partnership with our lobbying firm, OAPA is monitoring dozens of health-related bills to determine their relevance to, or potential impact on, the PA profession. Key pieces of legislation that we are closely watching, especially bills for which we have provided testimony, are noted here.

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SB 25 - Prohibit sun lamp tanning services to individuals under age 16
To amend sections 4713.50, 4713.51, and 4713.64 of the Revised Code to prohibit the provision of sun lamp tanning services to individuals under age 16.

OAPA submitted written proponent testimony in support of this bill on April 2.

View our SB 25 Proponent Testimony

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HB 8 - Require health plan and Medicaid coverage of biomarker testing
To enact sections 3902.65 and 5164.13 of the Revised Code to require health benefit plan and Medicaid program coverage of biomarker testing.

OAPA submitted written proponent testimony in support of this bill on April 9.

View our HB 8 Proponent Testimony

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HB 33 - Require insurance coverage for certain prostate cancer screening
To enact section 3902.66 of the Revised Code to require health insurers to cover preventive screenings for certain men at high-risk for developing prostate cancer.

OAPA is supporting this bill and intends to submit proponent testimony.

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HB 12 - Enact the Jeff, Dave, and Angie Patient Right to Try Act
To enact section 3792.08 of the Revised Code regarding prescribing, dispensing, and administering drugs and to name this act the Jeff, Dave, and Angie Patient Right to Try Act.

OAPA is monitoring this bill and engaging with stakeholders.

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HB 112 - Enact the Conscientious Right to Refuse Act
To enact section 3792.09 of the Revised Code to prohibit discrimination against an individual for the refusal of certain medical interventions for reasons of conscience, including religious convictions, and to name this act the Conscientious Right to Refuse Act.

OAPA is monitoring this bill and engaging with stakeholders.

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HB 96 - State Operating Budget
To make operating appropriations for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2027, to levy taxes, and to provide authorization and conditions for the operation of state programs.

On April 9, the Ohio House approved a $61 billion budget, a massive 5,000+ page piece of legislation.

As the budget advances to the Ohio Senate, OAPA remains actively engaged in monitoring its progress. We continue to collaborate with key stakeholder groups to advocate for provisions that support the PA profession, specifically, a proposed amendment to establish a preceptor tax incentive. We are grateful to Representative Kellie Deeter (R-Norwalk) for her support of this initiative during the House phase and will build on that momentum as we work to advance this effort in the Senate.

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2025 News

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• How OAPA Members Can Help Influence Ohio Healthcare Policy
• Download and Share: Must-Have Materials to Promote the PA Profession
• OAPA Leader Q&A: President Hart Welcomes New Government Affairs Chair Freado
• An Introduction to Hicks Partners, OAPA's New Lobbying Firm

 

• Assist with telehealth to expand medical care to more patients
• Allow for consistent follow up with patients who may be out of state
• Expand access to more quality providers and quicker appointments

SB81: Authorized PAs to Sign Hospital Patient Documents

Signed into law in June 2024 and taking effect in September 2024 (in ORC Section 4730.204), this bill:

• Included PAs among other advanced practice providers to permit their signature on documents related to the following (though stopping short of permitting a PA to "pink slip" a patient):
  (1) The admission of a patient to a health care facility for the purpose of receiving psychiatric or other behavioral health care services on an inpatient basis;
  (2) The discharge of a patient from a health care facility after receiving inpatient psychiatric or other behavioral health care services;
  (3) The treatment of a patient while at a health care facility on an inpatient basis for psychiatric or other behavioral health care services.
• Confirmed that a supervising physician who authorizes a physician assistant to sign one or more documents as described in this section is not liable for damages, administrative action, or criminal prosecution for an act or omission that arises from the physician assistant signing the document. Note, however, that this relates only to the documentation in question, not the supervision agreement and its related physician responsibilities and liabilities.

 

 

Signed into law in December 2018 and taking effect in March 2019, this bill:

 

• Eliminated the requirement that each physician assistant supervision agreement be submitted to, and reviewed by, the State Medical Board of Ohio.

 

Find more legislative achievements over the years in this brief history of OAPA and the PA profession in Ohio.