Warren-Clinton News

Representatives Adam Mathews and Meredith Craig have introduced House Bill 324, known as the Patient Protection Act, in Ohio. The bill aims to safeguard residents from drugs that frequently cause severe adverse effects.

The proposed legislation mandates that any drug causing severe side effects in over 5% of patients will be subject to new regulations. These side effects include death, sepsis, organ failure, hemorrhaging, or infections requiring hospitalization. Under this law, prescribers must conduct an in-person examination, inform patients of the risks associated with the drug, and schedule a follow-up visit before prescribing it.

"The Hippocratic Oath is to 'Do No Harm,' and with the proliferation of mail order medication, some drugs are severely injuring over one in twenty patients," Mathews stated. "We can't stand by while unscrupulous actors take advantage of Ohioans."

Craig added, “Telehealth has an important place in modern medicine, but when we’re talking about drugs that can send patients to the hospital, or worse, standards of care cannot take a back seat. If a medication is known to cause life-threatening complications, it’s only common sense to require a face-to-face exam and a real conversation about the risks. Patient safety must come before convenience.”

To maintain an accurate list of such drugs, the bill assigns responsibility to the Ohio Department of Health. The Director of Health will work with the Department of Insurance and State Medical and Pharmacy boards to review insurance claims and patient reports alongside data from the United States Food and Drug Administration.

House Bill 324 now awaits committee assignment and further consideration in the House.