The bill amends section 5167.12 and enacts new sections 3902.65, 4729.362, and 5164.093 of the Revised Code to enhance accessibility for visually impaired patients regarding prescription medications. Specifically, it mandates that health benefit plans provide coverage for prescription readers, which are devices that audibly convey essential information from medication labels. Licensed terminal distributors of dangerous drugs are required to notify customers about the availability of prescription readers and must provide them upon request, ensuring that the labels on dispensed medications are compatible with these devices. The bill also clarifies definitions related to dangerous drugs and institutional pharmacies.

Additionally, the bill includes a provision that the Medicaid program will cover prescription readers provided by licensed terminal distributors, further ensuring that visually impaired patients have access to necessary information about their medications. The existing section 5167.12 is repealed, and the new provisions will apply only to health benefit plans that are delivered, issued for delivery, modified, or renewed in Ohio after the bill's effective date. This legislative change aims to improve the quality of care and accessibility for visually impaired individuals in managing their prescriptions.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 5167.12