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Posted By Columbus Medical Association - CMA,
Friday, October 24, 2025
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While the Ohio Legislature was in session this past week to advance property tax legislation, it also took some legislative action on certain healthcare issues affecting the medical community. Read below to learn more about the healthcare bills currently making their way through the Ohio Legislature.
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Number
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Name
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Status
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Summary
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HB 8
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HB 8 Require health plan and Medicaid coverage of biomarker testing
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Introduced in House (1/23/25), Referred to House Health Committee (1/28/25), First Hearing in Committee - Proponent (2/5/25), Second Hearing in Committee- Proponent (4/9/25), Third Hearing in Committee- Proponent/Opponent (4/30/25)
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● Requires health benefit plan and Medicaid program coverage of biomarker testing under medically-appropriate circumstances.
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HB 33
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HB 33 Require Insurance coverage for certain prostate cancer screening
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Introduced in House (2/3/25),
Referred to House Insurance Committee (2/5/25), First Hearing in Committee - Proponent (3/4/25), Second Hearing in Committee - Proponent (5/6/25)
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● Requires insurers to cover preventive screenings for certain men at high-risk for developing prostate cancer.
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HB 52
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Revise the practice of certified registered nurses anesthetists
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Introduced in House (2/4/25), Referred to House Health Committee (2/5/25), Reported from House Health Committee (6/18/25), Passed in House (6/18/25), Introduced in Senate (6/24/25), Referred to Senate Health Committee (6/25/25),
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As Passed by House
● Eliminates the requirement that a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) practice with supervision, defined by existing law to mean that the CRNA is under a physician’s, podiatrist’s, or dentist’s direction.
● Instead requires a CRNA to practice in collaboration with a physician, podiatrist, or dentist, defined by the bill to mean that the collaborating practitioner has requested the CRNA to perform patient care activities.
● Also requires the CRNA, when exercising authority to perform requested activities, to do so in accordance with policies established and privileges delineated by the health care facility where the CRNA and collaborating physician, podiatrist, or dentist practice.
● Eliminates the requirement that a CRNA be in the immediate presence of a physician, podiatrist, or dentist when administering anesthesia or performing its induction, maintenance, or emergence.
● Removes the timeline during which a CRNA may engage in specified activities, including selecting, ordering, and administering certain treatments, drugs, and intravenous fluids, while maintaining a CRNA’s authority to engage in many of those activities.
● Prohibits the State Medical Board from prohibiting a podiatrist who practices other than in a hospital or college of podiatric medicine from collaborating with a CRNA.
● Requires a dentist who collaborates with a CRNA to hold a conscious sedation or general anesthesia permit from the State Dental Board.
● Makes other changes to the law governing the practice of CRNAs, including by consolidating provisions of existing law.
● Requires a health care facility to notify a patient, before the patient’s anesthesia is administered or epidural or spinal anesthetic procedure is performed, that a CRNA, physician, podiatrist, or dentist will administer the anesthesia or perform the anesthetic procedure.
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HB 58
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HB 58 Create recovery housing residences certificate of need program
Text of Substitute HB 58
As posted by the Committee
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Introduced in House (2/4/25), Referred to House Community Revitalization (2/5/25), First Hearing in Committee (2/18/25), Second Hearing in Committee (3/18/25), Additional Second Hearing in Committee (5/6/25), Third Hearing in Committee of Substitute HB 58 (10/14/25)
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Analysis of Fiscal Impact of Sub HB 58 as of 10/14/25 from Third Committee Hearing
● The bill converts the program used by the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) to monitor recovery housing residences into a state certification program. This will result in administrative costs to DBH. Costs will depend on the rules adopted, the number of programs seeking certification, and the number and scope of complaints. If fees for certifications or violations are collected, these could help offset costs.
● The bill modifies DBH’s current requirement to maintain a registry of recovery housing residences by requiring that the registry contains comprehensive and consolidated information. This will result in administrative costs to DBH depending on how much additional data needs to be collected and how often the registry needs to be updated.
● The bill requires all investigations of complaints to be completed within 14 days and requires DBH to permit alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health services (ADAMHS) boards to participate in an investigation. This may result in additional costs for ADAMHS boards if a board chooses to participate in an investigation. ▪ The bill establishes a process for seeking injunctions against violators that begins with local prosecuting attorneys, rather than the Attorney General. This will shift some costs from the Attorney General to those prosecuting attorneys, depending on how often this process is used.
● The bill requires that the transportation costs of individuals who fail to comply with courtordered addiction treatment be paid by the probate court that ordered the treatment under circumstances specified by the bill. This could result in transportation costs for local courts. The costs will depend on how often this occurs and the length of travel.
Analysis as Introduced as of 2/18/25
● CON Program for recovery housing residences
○ Requires the Director of the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) to administer a certificate of need (CON) Program for various activities relating to the operation of, need for, and location of recovery housing residences.
○ Specifies various duties of the OhioMHAS Director under the CON Program, including reviewing applications, issuing rulings, hearing appeals, imposing civil penalties, and adopting rules governing the program.
○ Establishes a CON application fee that is based on the type of project being proposed and primarily according to the number of beds involved in the project.
● Inspections and investigations by ADAMH boards
○ Requires boards of alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health services (ADAMH boards) to conduct annual inspections of recovery housing residences in their jurisdiction.
○ Requires that complaints be investigated by ADAHM boards, rather than by OhioMHAS or its contractors and permits the ADAMH boards to contract with individuals to serve as inspectors and investigators.
○ Designates the application fees and civil penalties collected under the CON Program as funding sources to assist in defraying the inspection and investigation costs incurred by the ADAMH boards.
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HB 141
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HB 141 Regards prescribed pediatric extended care centers
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Introduced in House (3/3/25), Referred to House Health Committee (3/5/25), First Hearing in Committee (4/30/25), Second Hearing in Committee (5/7/25), Third Hearing in Committee (5/21/25), Fourth Hearing in Committee (5/27/25), Reported from House Health Committee (5/27/25), Passed House (6/18/25), Introduced in Senate (6/24/25), Referred to Senate Health Committee (6/25/25), First Hearing in Committee (10/8/25)
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● Recognizes prescribed pediatric extended care centers, facilities providing services to medically or technologically dependent children, and regulates their operation, including by requiring each center to hold a license issued by the Director of Health.
● Establishes eligibility conditions for licensure, including that a prescribed pediatric extended care center (1) employ a medical director and at least one nurse manager and (2) operate a child care center at the same address as the prescribed pediatric extended care center.
● Authorizes a licensed center to provide and deliver medical, nursing, and psychosocial services and developmental education to medically dependent or technologically dependent children while at the center.
● Also authorizes a licensed center to allow for other entities to provide certain services, supports, and therapies to children while at the center, including developmental and social work services, behavioral supports, and occupational, physical, and speech therapy.
● Requires the Medicaid Director to seek approval from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to cover services provided by licensed prescribed pediatric extended care centers.
● Requires the Department of Medicaid to establish pediatric-specific processes for level of care determinations that apply for eligibility determinations for the Ohio Home Care Waiver program
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HB 162
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HB 162 Enact the My Child-My Chart Act
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Introduced in House (3/12/25), Referred to House Health Committee (3/19/25), First Hearing in Committee (5/21/25), Second Hearing in Committee (6/11/25), Third Hearing in Committee (6/18/25), Fourth Hearing in Committee (9/24/25), Fifth Hearing in Committee (10/1/25), Sixth Hearing in Committee (10/8/25), Reported from House Health Committee (10/8/25), Passed House (10/15/25), Introduced in Senate (10/21/25), Referred to Senate Health Committee (10/22/25)
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As Reported by House Health Committee
● Requires a health care provider to ensure a minor’s parent or guardian has access to the minor’s electronic health records to the fullest extent permitted under the HIPAA Privacy Rule and state law.
● Requires a health care provider to annually inform each minor’s parent or guardian of certain information, including the circumstances in which a minor may consent to health care on the minor’s own behalf and that records of such care may not be disclosed to the parent or guardian without the minor’s authorization.
● Prohibits a health care provider from requiring a minor’s parent or guardian to obtain the minor’s authorization before the parent or guardian may access records – in the electronic health records system – that relate to care the minor received with parental or guardian consent.
● Requires a health care provider, at a minor’s annual well visit, to allow the minor an opportunity to provide general, ongoing written consent for parental or guardian access to the minor’s medical records regarding care the minor consented to on the minor’s own behalf.
● Names the act the My Child-My Chart Act
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HB 172
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HB 172 Prohibit mental health service to minors without parental consent
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Introduced in House (3/12/25), Referred to House Health Committee (3/19/25), First Hearing in Committee (5/21/25), Second Hearing in Committee (10/22/25)
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● Prohibits minors 14 or older from receiving mental health services without parental consent.
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HB 214
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HB 214 Require Medicaid, health insurers report on prior authorization
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Introduced in House (4/2/25), Referred to House Insurance Committee (4/9/25), First Hearing in Committee - Proponent (5/20/25)
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● Creates a “gold card” exemption program for providers who consistently receive a high prior authorization approval rate and contains data collection requirements for insurers to share certain program metrics on their public websites and with ODI annually.
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HB 219
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HB 219 Establish Network Adequacy Standards for Health Insurers
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Introduced in House (4/1/25), Referred to House Insurance Committee (4/9/25), First Hearing in Committee - Proponent (5/6/25), Second Hearing in Committee - Proponent (10/7/25)
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● Establishes standards for creation and maintenance of insurance networks and to assure the adequacy, accessibility, transparency and quality of healthcare services offered under a network plan.
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HB 220
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HB 220 Regards health insurance, Medicaid prior authorization
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Introduced in House (4/1/25), Referred to House Health Committee (4/9/25), First Hearing in Committee - Proponent (5/27/25), Second Hearing in Committee (10/21/25), Third Hearing in Committee - Proponent (10/28/25)
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● Retroactive Denials, Peer to Peer, Appeals – Bolsters existing prior authorization law in Ohio concerning retroactive denials and peer to peer reviews. Also prohibits insurers from charging providers to appeal rejected claims, and allows providers to adjust medication dosages during the year for a prior approved12-month prior authorization.
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HB 224
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HB 224 Regulate the practice of certified and licensed midwives
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Introduced in House (4/7/25), Referred to House Health Committee (4/9/25), First Hearing in Committee - Proponent (5/21/25)
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● Would regulate and license the practice of certified midwives and licensed midwives.
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HB 229
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HB 229 Establishing licensing process, contract requirements for PBMs
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Introduced in House (4/9/25)
Referred to House General Government Committee (4/30/25), First Hearing in Committee (5/13/25), Second Hearing in Committee (6/3/25), Third Hearing in Committee (6/10/25), Fourth Hearing in Committee (9/24/25), Fifth Hearing in Committee - Proponent (10/7/25),
Passed House (10/8/25),
Introduced in Senate (10/14/25)
Referred to Senate Financial Institutions, Insurance and Technology Committee (10/15/25)
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As Reported by House General Government
● Establishes a stand-alone licensing process for pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) beginning July 1, 2027.
● Increases the license and renewal fees for PBMs to $2,000 and $3,000, respectively, from $200 for licensure and $300 for renewal for third-party administrators (TPAs) under continuing law.
● Extends the timeframe for which a PBM is required to retain certain books and records.
● Requires PBMs to at least annually account to the plan sponsor any pricing discounts, rebates, inflationary payments, credits, claw backs, fees, grants, charge backs, reimbursements, or other benefits received by the PBM.
● Requires PBMs to disclose to the plan sponsor the terms and conditions of any contract or arrangement between the PBM and any other party relating to the services provided under the agreement with the plan sponsor, and any potential conflicts of interest.
● Allows the Superintendent of Insurance to examine a PBM’s books and records to determine aggregate number of rebates and payments for pharmacist services.
● Specifies that information obtained by the Superintendent and the Department of Insurance under the PBM law is confidential and not subject to public records law.
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HB 257
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HB 257 Enact the Ohio Medical Debt Fairness Act
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Introduced 5/6/25; Referred to House Health Committee (5/7/25), First Hearing in Committee - Proponent (5/27/25), Second Hearing in Committee - Proponent (6/4/25), Third Hearing in Committee - Opponent/Interested Party (9/17/25), Fourth Hearing in Committee (9/24/25)
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● Caps the rate of interest that can be charged for medical debt at 3% annually.
● Prohibits an entity from bringing a proceeding for the collection of wages or other earnings to satisfy medical debt.
● Prohibits a health care provider or a collections agency from reporting any information relative to the nonpayment of medical debt to a consumer reporting agency.
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HB 271
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HB 271 Enact Breast Examination and Screening Transformation (BEST) Act
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Introduced in House (5/13/25), Referred to House Insurance Committee (5/14/25), First Hearing in Committee - Proponent (5/20/25), Second Hearing in Committee - Proponent (5/27/25), Third Hearing in Committee - Opponent/Interested Party (10/7/25), Fourth Hearing in Committee (10/14/25)
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● Requires coverage of diagnostic breast examinations and prohibits insurers from imposing cost-sharing requirements on covered breast or cervical cancer screenings and examinations.
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HB 277
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HB 277 Regards employment status of health care workers
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Introduced in House (5/14/25), Referred to House Commerce and Labor Committee (5/21/25), First Hearing in Committee (6/4/25)
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● Specifies conditions under which a health care worker providing services to patients is not an employee of a healthcare worker platform or a healthcare facility for purposes of state overtime and minimum wage requirements, the Bimonthly Pay Law, the Workers’ Compensation Law, the Unemployment Compensation Law, and the Income Tax Law.
● Allows a healthcare worker platform to advertise to the public that the platform is seeking health care workers to use the platform.
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HB 281
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HB 281 Regards hospitals and enforcement of federal immigration law
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Introduced in House (5/20/25), Referred to House Public Safety Committee (5/21/25), First Hearing in Committee (6/11/25)
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● Requires each hospital to permit certain federal and state law enforcement agents and officers to enter the hospital for the purpose of enforcing federal immigration law.
● Requires an agent or officer seeking access to a hospital to demonstrate to the hospital that the agent or contractor does so only to enforce federal immigration law.
● Requires each hospital employee or contractor to facilitate an agent’s or officer’s access to the hospital in order for the agent to make arrests, conduct interviews, or collect information or evidence.
● Requires each hospital to adopt a written policy establishing standards and procedures to be followed by hospital employees and contractors when complying with the bill’s requirements.
● Establishes penalties for hospitals that fail to comply with the bill’s requirements, which include the suspension of Medicaid provider agreements and the loss of grant funding awarded by state agencies.
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HB 353
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HB 353 Change title used by physician assistants to physician associate
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Introduced in House (6/11/25), Referred to House Health Committee (6/18/25), First Hearing in Committee - Proponent (10/1/25), Second Hearing in Committee - Proponent with Possible Amendment (10/22/25)
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● Would change the title used by physician assistants to “physician associate.”
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HB 377
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HB 377 Regards use of light-based medical devices for hair removal
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Introduced in House (6/24/25)
Referred to Health Committee (9/15/25), First Hearing in Committee - Proponent, (9/17/25), Second Hearing in Committee - Possible Amendment and Proponent (10/22/25), Third Hearing in Committee - Opponent/Interested Party (10/29/25)
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● Revises the law governing the application – by specified individuals under physician delegation – of light-based medical devices for the purpose of hair removal, including by labeling certain of these individuals as laser hair removal professionals.
● Limits application of the requirement that a delegating physician evaluate a patient before and after the first use of the light-based medical device to procedures performed by a laser hair professional, rather than procedures performed by any physician delegate.
● Expands – in some circumstances – the number of delegates that a delegating physician supervises at the same time, by prohibiting a delegating physician from supervising more than (1) five laser hair removal professionals at the same time or (2) five registered nurses or licensed practical nurses at the same time, instead of more than two.
● Authorizes a delegating physician to provide off-site supervision of a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse applying a light-based medical device for purposes of hair removal if the nurse completes a training and education program that meets certain criteria.
● Extends to certain advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants the authority to delegate and supervise the application of light-based medical devices by laser hair removal professionals, registered nurses, and licensed practical nurses, in the same manner and under the same conditions and requirements as physician delegation and supervision.
● Reduces the maximum wavelength of electromagnetic radiation produced by a light-based medical device to less than or equal to 1064 nanometers (nm) (from less than or equal to 1.0 X 106 nm).
● Reorganizes several existing statutory provisions to improve readability.
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HB 390
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HB 390 Prohibit health plans from requiring providers to collect copays
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Introduced in House (7/1/25), Referred to House Insurance Committee (9/15/25), First Hearing in Committee (10/21/25)
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● Shifts the responsibility of collecting a patient’s cost-sharing amount—copays, deductibles, and coinsurance—from physicians to insurers.
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HB 410
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Prohibit Medicaid funds for certain abortion providers
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Introduced (8/7/25); Referred to House Medicaid Committee (9/15/25), First Hearing in Committee - Proponent (9/30/25), Second Hearing in Committee - Proponent (10/7/25)
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● Proposes to enact ORC 5162.09 and restrict Medicaid funds from abortion providers that are prohibited from receiving federal funds by federal law (directly referencing Section 71113 of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”).
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HB 440
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HB 440 Regards the Board of Nursing and criminal records check results
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Introduced in the House (9/9/25),
Referred to Health Committee (9/15/25), First Hearing in Committee (9/17/25), Second Hearing in Committee (9/24/25), Third Hearing in Committee (10/1/25), Reported to House Health Committee (10/1/25), Passed House (10/1/25) Introduced in Senate (10/7/25), Referred to Senate Health Committee (10/8/25), First Hearing in Committee - Sponsor (10/28/25)
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● Revises the law governing the Ohio Board of Nursing and criminal records checks, including by consolidating, in one statute, references to the types of individuals required to undergo Board-related checks.
● Specifically requires an individual, when requesting a criminal records check for Board of Nursing purposes, to submit one complete set of fingerprint impressions directly to the Superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation.
● Eliminates the Board of Nursing’s authority to make the results of a criminal records check available to the representative of an individual subject to a Board-related check.
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HB 448
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HB 448 Apply prescription drug rebates to cost-sharing requirements
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Introduced in House (9/15/25), Referred to House Insurance Committee (10/1/25)
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● Requires health plan issuers to calculate cost-sharing amounts for prescription drugs based on the price of the drug after all rebates have been applied to the original cost of that drug.
● Prohibits health plan issuers from publishing or disclosing information regarding the actual amount of rebates the health plan issuer receives with respect to a drug or class of drugs, manufacturer, or pharmacy
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HB 449
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HB 449 Enact the Better Access to Health Care Act
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Introduced in House (9/15/25), Referred to House Health Committee (10/1/25)
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● No analysis yet
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HB 453
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HB 453 Regards insurance, Medicaid coverage of certain autism therapy
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Introduced in House (9/15/25), Referred to House Insurance Committee (10/1/25)
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● No analysis yet
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HB 502
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HB 502 Appropriate funds for SNAP, TANF, WIC upon lapse in federal funds
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Introduced in House (10/7/25), Referred to House Agriculture Committee (10/8/25)
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● No analysis yet
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HB 508
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HB 508 Enact the Better Access to Health Care Act
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Introduced in House (10/8/25),
Referred to House Medicaid Committee (10/15/25), First Hearing in Committee (10/21/25)
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● Grants an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who is a certified nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or certified nurse-midwife the option to practice without a standard care arrangement and collaborating practitioner if the APRN has practiced in a clinical setting for 5,000 hours.
● Permits an APRN’s collaborating practitioner to be not only a physician or podiatrist as under current law, but also an APRN who is not practicing with another collaborator.
● Makes conforming changes to the laws governing APRNs and other health professionals, including the law regarding youth athletics and concussions.
● Eliminates the express prohibition against a certified nurse-midwife treating an abnormal condition, but otherwise maintains the current law list of activities the nurse-midwife may not perform.
● Names the act the “Better Access to Health Care Act.”
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HB 515
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HB 515 Regards ADAMH boards and board contracts
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Introduced in House (10/14/25)
Referred to House Children and Human Services Committee (10/15/25)
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● No analysis yet
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HB 521
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HB 521 Enact the Ohio Nurse Workforce and Safe Patient Act
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Introduced in House (10/15/25), Referred to House Health Committee (10/22/25)
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● No analysis yet
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HB 525
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HB 525 Regards use of artificial intelligence in therapy services
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Introduced in House (10/15/25), Referred to House Health Committee (10/22/25)
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● No analysis yet
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Number
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Name
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Status
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Summary
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SB 137
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SB 137 Require hospitals to provide overdose reversal drugs
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Introduced in Senate (3/11/25),
Referred to Senate Health Committee (3/19/25), First Hearing in Committee (5/28/25), Second Hearing in Committee (6/4/25), Third Hearing in Committee (6/18/25), Fourth Hearing in Committee (10/1/25), Fifth Hearing in Committee (10/8/25), Passed Senate (10/8/25), Referred to House Health Committee (10/15/25), First Hearing in Committee (10/29/25)
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As Passed by Senate
● Requires hospitals to provide overdose reversal drugs to patients who presented to the emergency department for adverse events related to opioid use, with some exceptions.
● Permits a hospital to seek insurance or Medicaid reimbursement for providing overdose reversal drugs to patients.
● Requires the Department of Behavioral Health to provide overdose reversal drugs to hospitals if adequate funds are available.
● Requires hospitals that provide overdose reversal drugs to patients to prepare and submit reports to the Department of Health and the Department of Behavioral Health
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SB 160
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SB 160 Regards prescription drugs and medication switching
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Introduced in Senate (4/1/25), Referred to Senate Financial Institutions, Insurance and Technology Committee (4/2/25), First Hearing in Committee (6/17/25), Second Hearing in Committee (9/30/25), Third Hearing in Committee (10/21/25)
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● Prohibits insurers from making mid-year drug formulary changes in order to avoid abrupt and unwarranted treatment changes.
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SB 162
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SB 162 Regards timing of health insurer recoupment from providers
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Introduced in Senate (4/1/25), Referred to Senate Financial Institutions, Insurance and Technology Committee (4/2/25), First Hearing in Committee (9/30/25), Second Hearing in Committee (10/21/25)
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● Changes, from two years to a period dependent upon the contract terms, the period governing when: A payment by a health insurance company to a health care provider is considered final; and Overpayment recovery against a provider must be initiated.
● Prohibits a health insurance company from changing its payment, audit, or review timelines during the contract period.
● Prohibits a health insurance company charging a health care provider for appealing an overcharge determination.
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SB 164
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SB 164 Regulate the use of artificial intelligence by health insurers
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Introduced in Senate (4/1/25), Referred to Senate Financial Institutions, Insurance, and Technology Committee (4/2/25)
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● Requires insurer transparency regarding their use of AI tools in prior authorization determinations, and ensures that
● determinations are made through review of individual merits of claims by licensed clinical professionals.
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SB 165
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SB 165 Prohibit denial of health insurance claim for certain factors
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Introduced in Senate (4/1/25), Referred to Senate Financial Institutions, Insurance, and Technology Committee
e (4/2/25), First Hearing in Committee (10/14/25)
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● Prohibits automatic downcoding of claims for all providers, and strengthens Ohio’s prudent layperson standard in order to protect Ohioans from unexpected medical bills.
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SB 166
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SB 166 Prohibit health insurance, Medicaid electronic claim fees
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Introduced in Senate (4/1/25), Referred to Senate Medicaid Committee (4/2/25)
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● No analysis yet
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SB 207
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SB 207 Prohibit certain health insurance cost-sharing practices
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Introduced in Senate (5/20/25), Referred to Senate Financial Institutions, Insurance, and Technology (5/28/25), First Hearing in Committee (9/30/25), Second Hearing in Committee (10/21/25)
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● Requires health insuring corporations, sickness and accident insurers, and pharmacy benefit managers (“health plan issuers”) to apply all amounts paid by or on behalf of covered individuals toward cost-sharing requirements for prescription drugs.
● Allows health plan issuers to exclude amounts paid on behalf of an enrollee by another person for a brand name prescription drug when a generic version exists and the brand name is not medically necessary.
● Prohibits health benefit plans from imposing any cost-sharing requirement that is greater than those imposed under federal law for high-deductible health plans. For 2025, those cost sharing maximums are $9,200 for self-only coverage and $18,400 for all other coverage.
● Prohibits health plan issuers from directly or indirectly setting, altering, implementing, or conditioning the terms of coverage, including benefit design, based in full or in part on the availability or amount of financial or product assistance for a prescription drug.
● Requires health plan issuers to certify compliance with the bill’s requirements to the Superintendent of Insurance no later than the first day of March of each year.
● Applies to health benefit plans delivered, issued for delivery, modified, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027.
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SB 226
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SB 226 Regards use of light-based medical devices for hair removal
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Introduced in Senate (7/1/25), Referred to Senate Health Committee (10/1/25)
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● No analysis yet
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SB 230
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SB 230 Authorize pharmacists to test, treat certain health conditions
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Introduced in Senate (7/7/25), Referred to Senate Health Committee (10/1/25)
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● No analysis yet
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SB 257
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SB 257 Establish the SCOPE Pilot Program
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Introduced in the Senate by Senator Weinstein (9/10/25), First Hearing in Committee (10/21/25)
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● Establishes the Support Children’s Overall Psychological and Emotional Health (SCOPE) Pilot Program in collaboration between the Department of Health (ODH) and the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) to provide mental health services to individuals eligible for the Program for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs.
● Specifies that the SCOPE Pilot Program terminates after one year or when funding is exhausted, whichever occurs first.
● Requires ODH and DBH to survey participating families to assess the Pilot Program’s effectiveness upon its termination.
● Makes an appropriation.
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SB 274
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SB 274 Prohibit minor mental health services without parental consent
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Introduced in Senate (9/30/25), Referred to Senate Health Committee (10/1/25)
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● Prohibits minors 14 or older from receiving mental health services without parental consent
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Posted By Columbus Medical Association - CMA,
Saturday, October 11, 2025
Updated: Friday, October 10, 2025
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Physicians in the Ohio General Assembly play a vital role not only in caring for patients but also in shaping the future of healthcare policy in Ohio. With new legislative sessions ahead and the 2026 election cycle on the horizon, it’s more important than ever that physicians have a seat at the table helping lawmakers understand how policy decisions impact real people and practices.
In Ohio, there are three physicians in the legislature state Senators Steve Huffman and Beth Liston, and state Representative Anita Somani. Having physicians representing our communities ensures that the voice of medicine is represented on issues ranging from patient safety and access to care to workforce challenges and public health. These leaders bring firsthand experience and bipartisan collaboration to the conversations that shape Ohio’s healthcare landscape.
We encourage you to learn more about these physicians and the issues they’re advocating for:
- Sen. Steven Huffman, MD (R) - District 5
- Sen. Beth Liston, MD, PhD (D) - District 16
- Rep. Anita Somani, MD (D) - District 8
The CMA’s Public Policy Committee will meet in November to refine its 2026 policy agenda and advocacy priorities guided by the belief that evidence-based medicine and the patient-physician relationship must remain at the center of healthcare decision-making. Watch for updates in the CMA News email newsletter next month.
In addition, find additional advocacy-related resources on the CMA website:
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Posted By Columbus Medical Association - CMA,
Friday, August 8, 2025
Updated: Thursday, August 7, 2025
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CMA Public Policy Update: HPP Funding, Ohio Insurance Reform, and More
From the federal funds that fuel health care preparedness and response in Ohio and across the country to Ohio Administrative Code rules and state-level insurance reform, there are a number of important policy updates that impact our physicians and community.
Update on HPP Funding & Federal Appropriations
Unlike the federal reconciliation process, federal appropriations bills are broken into smaller bills by subject matter. The appropriations bills determine funding for discretionary programs, which is everything other than mandatory programs (such as Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, etc.) and taxes.
Appropriations bills move through the House and Senate at the same time. Last week, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed the Labor, HHS, and Education Appropriations Bill, which was advanced by a vote of 26-3 and provides $197 billion in discretionary funding.
The most important thing for members of the Columbus Medical Association and its affiliates to know is that the bill largely rejected the Administration's federal fiscal year 2026 budget proposal to restructure, eliminate, or consolidate many public health programs, including the Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP). HPP funds are the primary source of funding for health care preparedness and response nationwide. CMA affiliate COTS coordinates emergency preparedness and response for 36 of Ohio's 88 counties for the Ohio Department of Health, which administers the HPP in Ohio.
Though the proposed funding levels included in the appropriations bill are subject to change as both chambers of Congress are expected to engage in negotiations before the expiration of the current federal fiscal year on September 30, the Senate bill includes the following:
- $309 million for Health Care Readiness and Recovery (formerly the Hospital Preparedness Program), an increase of $4 million.
- Language requiring the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to submit a detailed plan and justification to the Committees on Appropriations prior to initiating a reorganization or transfer of functions carried out by the Centers for Disease Control.
- Full funding for the 988-suicide hotline.
How can you help? It’s important to continue to reach out to your representatives in Congress to advocate for emergency preparedness funding.
- Find your U.S. House Representative here.
- Contact Sen. Bernie Moreno and Sen. Jon Husted here.
Miscellaneous Topics
- Click here to read all about the Ohio State Medical Association’s insurance reform legislative effort, a wrap-up of the state budget, and more in their July 2025 Advocacy Report.
- On July 10, 2025, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) rescinded a 1998 interpretation of “federal public benefit” as used in Title IV of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA). As a result, HHS has expanded the health care and social service programs for which it deems undocumented people ineligible. Read more about the change here.
- The Ohio Board of Pharmacy recently issued a slew of new, amended and rescinded rules. See summaries of the changes at this link.
- In late June, the US. Supreme Court upheld the authority of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force to make determinations about preventive coverage mandated by the Affordable Care Act. Read about the impact of the Kennedy v. Braidwood Mgmt., Inc. decision here.
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Posted By Columbus Medical Association - CMA,
Friday, July 11, 2025
Updated: Wednesday, July 9, 2025
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State & Federal Budgets: What Physicians Need to Know Right Now
There has been considerable activity coming from both the state and federal governments within the past few weeks. Each level has passed a budget and is considering legislation that could directly impact providers and patients. Below is a reference to key changes and ways in which you can get involved.
Find key updates below and click here to skip ahead to the federal budget update, including the status of funding for the Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP), which is crucial for emergency preparedness in Ohio.
State Budget
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed the state’s biennial operating budget into law on June 30, 2025. Click here to read about key provisions, as well as the Governor’s vetoes. The House is expected to return on July 21 to override some of the Governor’s vetoes.
State Miscellaneous
House Bill 281 was introduced into the Ohio House on May 20, 2025. This bill would allow the enforcement of federal immigration laws in Ohio hospitals. Click here to learn more about the potential impacts from this legislation.
There are a number of other bills pending in the state legislature that will impact physicians and patients. See the our June 13 State Policy Advocacy Alert to learn more about those bills. There are no current updates to those bills, but we will monitor the legislation to provide the latest updates when applicable.
TAKE ACTION: After passing the state budget, the Ohio legislature (mostly) adjourned for the summer. Now is a great time to meet with your legislator in your district to discuss current or potential bills or issues of importance to you. Click here to identify your legislator and legislators representing locations where your patients are served.
Federal Budget
The U.S. Congress passed the federal reconciliation budget on July 3, 2025. The reconciliation bill addresses mandatory spending for programs such as Medicaid. Click here to learn more about how the federal budget bill impacts physicians and patients, particularly those on Medicaid.
The federal appropriations budget, which controls discretionary spending for programs such as the Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP), is currently working its way through the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. The Trump Administration proposed eliminating funding to the HPP.
There is positive news—with support from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), the current versions of the appropriations budgets include funding for Health Care Readiness and Recovery, which includes the HPP. Action from our members and partners is still needed to join a number of organizations, including our affiliate COTS, to continue to push to keep and increase funding for the HPP.
For more details on the importance of HPP funding for our safety in Ohio:
- Read our HPP Advocacy Alert here.
- Read the Columbus Dispatch article on the proposed cuts here.
- Watch the 10TV story on the proposed cuts here.
TAKE ACTION: To advocate for stable funding for the HPP, you can contact Rep. David Joyce (District 14) and Rep. Marcy Kaptur (District 09) who are both representatives from Ohio and on the House Appropriations Committee.
If you have questions about COTS, contact Sherri Kovach, COTS President, at skovach@cotshealth.org.
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Posted By Columbus Medical Association - CMA,
Thursday, June 12, 2025
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CMA Federal Policy Update
Federal Budget
President’s Budget Slashes the Hospital Preparedness Program
What is it?
- President Trump’s budget proposes a drastic reduction in federal funding to the Hospital Preparedness Program, the program that coordinates healthcare preparedness and response. In Central Ohio, the HPP is coordinated by COTS.
What does it mean?
- The proposed cuts make it impossible to collectively prepare for and respond to healthcare emergencies and jeopardizes healthcare readiness for crises that include natural and man-made disasters, pandemics, and cyber incidents with extended downtime. For more information, click here.
What can I do?
- Be on alert for a call to action! COTS is working with other regional preparedness and readiness programs in Ohio to advocate to House and Senate appropriators to maintain stable funding for the HPP. We will call on you to help!
House-Passed Reconciliation Bill Cuts Medicaid Coverage to Millions
What is it?
- The reconciliation bill passed by the House reduces federal funding for the Medicaid program by hundreds of billions of dollars over the next 10 years.
What does it mean?
- The Medicaid program is the largest single source of health care coverage in the United States, covering nearly half of all children, many low-income elderly and disabled individuals, and working adults in low-wage jobs. The $822 billion in Medicaid cuts included in the House Budget Reconciliation bill is projected by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office to result in the loss of coverage for at least 7.6 million Americans. The cuts will lead to even more crowding of emergency departments, closures of rural hospitals and community physician practices, and widespread health and economic instability. For more information, read the Coalition of State Medical Associations’ letter to Congress, available on the OSMA’s website.
What can I do?
- Contact Senators Husted and Moreno and share your concerns regarding the impact of the cuts on your patients, your business, and the health care system at large.
Federal Miscellaneous
Trump Administration Enforces Immigration in Formerly “Protected Areas”
What is it?
- One of President Trump’s first actions upon taking office was eliminating the existing (at the time) prohibition against enforcing immigration in “protected areas”, which protected certain areas, including healthcare facilities, from immigration enforcement.
What does it mean?
- Immigrants seeking health care in a health care facility can be detained or arrested by Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol (BP) agents. Health care facilities are expending time and resources preparing for ICE and BP raids. Additionally, the fear of such raids is dissuading immigrants from seeking health care and other services.
What can I do?
- Ask the CMA for information about how to educate yourself about this issue. For more information, visit this link.
CMS Rescinds EMTALA Guidance on Emergency Abortions
What is it?
- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services rescinded on June 3, 2025, guidance from 2022 that clarified that if a hospital emergency department physician believes that an abortion is the stabilizing treatment necessary to resolve a patient’s emergency medical condition, the physician must provide that treatment, regardless of state law.
What does it mean?
- Emergency department physicians must be knowledgeable about the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) and state abortion laws, including the Ohio Reproductive Freedom Amendment, and render clinical decisions based on their understanding of such laws.
What can I do?
- Stay informed. For more information, see this link.
Miscellaneous Updates
Physicians May Be Eligible to Participate in a Huge Blue Cross Blue Shield Settlement Opportunity
What is it?
- The class action lawsuit, In re: Blue Cross Blue Shield Antitrust Litigation, addresses Provider Plaintiffs’ claims that Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) violated antitrust laws by illegally dividing the United States into "Service Areas" and agreeing not to compete in those areas. Provider Plaintiffs also claim that BCBS fixed prices for services. The case is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, and both parties have agreed to a Settlement. If approved by the court, the Settlement will establish a $2.8 billion Settlement Fund.
What does it mean?
- Class Members who are providers who submit a valid approved claim will receive a payment from the Net Settlement Fund if the Settlement is approved.
What can I do?
- Submit a claim by going to this link. For additional information, including eligibility criteria, see this article.
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