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Legislative Update December 2003: HB 311 and SB 138: Ohio’s Best Rx Program

Also: Current and Proposed Legislation

Legislative Update December 2003
Kelly Vyzral, Director of Government Affairs


HB 311 and SB 138: Ohio’s Best Rx Program
As we head into the holiday season, legislative activity has slowed down on all but a few priority bills. HB 311, and SB 138, Ohio’s Best Rx program, is at the top of the priority list. With only four more Session days scheduled in the early part of December, activity will be fast and furious to finish this legislation by the end of the year. Although OPA has made some positive changes in the bill, most importantly making it a voluntary program, at the time of printing, we still have several concerns with the legislation. The following list constitutes the major concerns of the Ohio Pharmacists Association in regards to HB 311, the Ohio Best Rx program.

Current Bills
As was stated before, legislation not on a priority track slowed down considerably in November and December. This is the case with much of the legislation we have been following. While the legislature will resume a more normal schedule in January, it must be remembered that 2004 is an election year, and campaigns for both the primary and the general election will keep legislators very busy.

HB 146: Diabetes Coverage.
This bill, which would require health plans to cover treatment of diabetes, has been promised a committee vote by the end of the year. It did not have a hearing in November, but with 15 of the 21 committee members as co-sponsors, it has a good chance of making it out of Health committee.

HB 253: Freedom of Access.
Introduced by Rep. Tom Patton, this bill would allow nonparticipating pharmacies to enter into contracts if they accept the same terms and conditions. It looks like this bill will have sponsor testimony in the New Year. This legislation is very important and we will be watching it carefully.

SB 43: Uniform Rx Drug Card.
Another important piece of legislation that we will be watching carefully in the New Year is SB 43. We are currently waiting on a redraft of the bill, which will add some insurance information that physicians will also find helpful in filing claims. This legislation has the support of insurance, medical and pharmacy interests, so when the General Assembly resumes business in January, we hope to see quick passage of the bill.

New Legislation
We have one new piece of legislation that has our concern. SB 147, which was introduced by Sen. Lynn Wachtmann, would give physician assistants physician-delegated prescriptive authority. The bill, as currently written, has a negative formulary, no delineated scope of practice, and no authority by the Medical Board. We are concerned about the lack of clinical education and experience involved in obtaining a physician assistant’s license. This legislation has not yet been assigned to a committee.

If you have questions or concerns about any of the bills mentioned in this article, please contact Kelly Vyzral, Director of Government Affairs, at 614.798.0037, or kvyzral@ohiopharmacists.org.

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