Status Update of Health Bills

As always, the OOA continues to monitor the Ohio Legislature. Here's a rundown of what happened this week.

HB 166 – State Budget

Committing hearing in Senate Finance scheduled for 4/24 and 4/25.
To make operating appropriations for the biennium beginning July 1, 2019, and ending June 30, 2021, and to provide authorization and conditions for the operation of state programs.

HB 177 – APRN Scope Bill

House Health Committee hearing 4/9/2019, continued
Regarding standard care arrangements entered into by advanced practice register nurses and collaborating physicians or podiatrist.
Focuses on increase the scope of the APRN by removing the standard care agreement with physicians or podiatrists.
Regarding physician prescribing of schedule II controlled substances from convenience care clinics
Physicians are NOT allowed to prescribe schedule II controlled substances from convenience care clinics.
Regarding clearances by licensed health professionals of concussed student athletes.

HB 144 – Nurse Overtime

Commerce and Labor Committee hearing 4/10/2019, continued
To prohibit a hospital from requiring a RN or LPN to work overtime as a condition of continued employment.

HB 132 – Immunizations

Primary & Secondary Education Committee hearing 4/2/2019, continued
Regarding notice of school child immunization requirements and exemptions.
Requires schools to notify pupil or pupil’s parent not only the requirements of immunization but also the exemptions from immunizations.

HB 63 – Drug Information

Health committee hearing 4/9/19, continued
Regarding pharmacy benefit managers / disclosure of drug price.
Requires a pharmacist to disclose to patients if their prescriptions would cost less if purchased without insurance coverage. Patient cannot be charged this higher price. Patients should not be charged more than: 1- the cost of the prescription without insurance coverage or 2- the reimbursement paid to the pharmacy for the prescription.

HB 102 – Chiropractic Services

Health committee hearing 3/12/19, continued
Regarding Medicaid coverage of chiropractic services.
Would require Medicaid to cover chiropractic services for recipients, offering no less than 20 visits to any participating licensed chiropractor acting within their scope of practice. Medicaid would not be able to impose a prior authorization or referral requirements for these services.

SB 20 – Controlled Substances

SB 61 – Nurse Anesthetists

General Government & Agency Review Committee Hearing 4/10/2019, continued
Regarding the authority of certified registered nurse anesthetists to select, order, and administer certain drugs.

SB 56 – Long-term Care

SB 14 – Drug Information

Insurance and Financial Institutions Committee hearing 4/3/2019, continued
Regarding pharmacy benefit managers, pharmacists, and the disclosure to patients of drug price information.
Requires a pharmacist to disclose to patients if their prescriptions would cost less if purchased without insurance coverage. Patient cannot be charged this higher price. Patients should not be charged more than: 1- the cost of the prescription without insurance coverage or 2- the reimbursement paid to the pharmacy for the prescription. Health insurance companies cannot exclude amount paid for a prescription for a person’s out-of-pocket maximum. This would also apply to Medicaid patients and their prescriptions.

SB 25 – Medicaid Requirements

SB 29 – Medicaid Copayments

SB 59 – Naloxone Dispensing

Health, Human Services, & Medicaid committee hearing 3/20/19, continued
Requires the State Board of Pharmacy to educate license holders about the law authorizing naloxone dispending w/o a prescription.

SB 97 – Providing estimates for health care preauthorization

Health, Human Services, & Medicaid committee hearing 3/20/19, continued
Requires a health care provider to provide a patient with a verbal or written cost estimate for scheduled services.
Requires a health plan issuer to provide a patient with a written cost estimate for services for which the patient’s health care provider seeks preauthorization.
Specifies that a patient is responsible to pay for a health care service or procedure even if the patient did not receive an estimate.

SB 24 – Establish Alzheimer's Disease and Dementias Task Force

Passed in Senate on 4/10/2019, 31-0
Establishes within the Ohio Department of Health the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Task Force and requires it to consider and make findings and recommendations on topics of concern pertaining to these conditions.

HB 61 – Public Records

Passed in House on 3/28/2019, 92-0
Includes forensic mental health providers, mental health evaluation, providers and regional psychiatric hospital employees as individuals whose residential and familial information is exempt from disclosure under the Public Records Law.