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03/17/2022

Ohio Legislative Update: OSMA Government Relations Snapshot

 


The OSMA advocacy team has been making the rounds lately, spending the past several weeks in and out of a variety of meetings with legislators and other interested parties on a number of issues that OSMA is tracking in the legislature.


 

Items on the meeting agenda have included:

  • Ban on tanning: As previously reported, OSMA has joined the Ohio Dermatological Association in support of House Bill 159, which would prohibit minors in the state of Ohio from using indoor tanning services. This proposal would protect Ohio’s youth from exposure to dangerous ultraviolet radiation that drastically increases the chance of developing skin cancer, particularly when exposure occurs before adulthood.

 

  • Non-medical switching: Alongside the Ohio Association of Rheumatology, OSMA is supporting House Bill 153 (sponsored by Rep. Beth Liston (D-Dublin) and Rep. Sara Carruthers (R-Hamilton)), which would prohibit insurers from engaging in the practice of non-medical switching. Non-medical switching describes situations in which patients are forced to switch to a different medication in the middle of a plan year for no medical reason due to formulary changes from the health insurer.

 

  • White-bagging: OSMA is a part of a coalition supporting House Bill 451, which 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. The bill has had several hearings in the House Insurance Committee and OSMA continues to participate in deliberations as the issue continues to move forward.

 

  • Midwives – scope of practice: Two separate legislative proposals have been introduced which would license certified midwives in Ohio and regulate their practice. OSMA has been involved in numerous discussions about both bills (HB 402 and HB 496), including provisions within that deal with scope of practice, eligibility criteria, and license requirements.

 

  • Prior authorization: As a reminder, OSMA is preparing to spearhead prior authorization reform legislation in Ohio, and has been meeting with elected officials to discuss the issue and find sponsors for the bill.


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