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 these prescription readers and must provide them upon request, ensuring that the labels on dispensed medications are compatible with the readers. The bill also outlines specific circumstances under which these requirements do not apply, such as when drugs are furnished by licensed health professionals or dispensed by certain types of pharmacies.

Additionally, the bill ensures that the Medicaid program covers prescription readers provided by licensed terminal distributors, aligning with the new provisions. The existing section 5167.12 is repealed, and the new provisions will only apply to health benefit plans that are delivered, issued for delivery, modified, or renewed in Ohio after the effective date of the bill. This legislative change aims to improve the quality of care and accessibility for visually impaired patients in managing their medications.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 5167.12