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Read. Follow. Verify.Ohio Prohibits Health Plan Issuers from Restricting Pharmacy Transparency and Patient Access Services
Last action · July 1, 2026: IntroducedSponsor: Kellie Deeter
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What This Bill Would Do
Ohio House Bill 972 prohibits health plan issuers, s, and s from penalizing or restricting pharmacies, pharmacists, and prescribers from offering services that increase prescription drug access and transparency. This includes prohibiting restrictions on payment plans, adherence support, cost information, electronic transactions, prior authorization support, claims data sharing, and copayment assistance.
Patients gain the right to receive direct information about drug costs, alternative medications, and out-of-pocket support without health plans penalizing or blocking participating pharmacies and pharmacists from providing those services.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Health plan issuers
Health plan issuers, pharmacy benefit managers, and third-party administrators are prohibited from imposing restrictions or penalties on pharmacies, pharmacists, and prescribers offering transparency and access services.
Pharmacies and Pharmacists
Pharmacies, pharmacists, and prescribers gain protections allowing them to offer payment plans, adherence support, cost information, and data sharing without facing penalties from health plans.
Patients
Patients receive enhanced access to prescription drug cost information, alternative medication options, claims data, and copayment support through their pharmacists.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What entities are restricted from penalizing pharmacies under this bill?
Can health plans block pharmacies from sharing claims data with patients?
Does the bill allow pharmacies to offer copayment assistance?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently filed. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Committee.
Procedural history
1 action- Jul 1, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
www.legislature.ohio.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy50Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz35Current news / social attention level
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