Ohio Bill Seeks to Cut Out-of-Pocket Prescription Costs

New, bipartisan legislation (House Bill 469) in the Ohio House seeks to reduce out-of-pocket prescription costs by preventing insurers from prohibiting the use of co-pay assistance programs to cover a patients’ share of the bill for brand-name drugs.

According to a press release, HB 469 — offered by Reps. Susan Manchester (R-Lakeview) and Thomas West (D-Canton) — would allow aid from co-pay assistance programs to count towards deductibles. Co-pay assistance can include manufacturers’ coupons or donations from a church or charity.

Due to the implications for drugmakers, as well as employers and their employees, the OMA is closely following this issue. 1/27/2020