(A) There is hereby created within the department of administrative services the prescription drug transparency and affordability advisory council. The department shall provide administrative support to the advisory council as necessary for the advisory council to carry out its duties under this section.

Ask a legal question, get an answer ASAP!
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

(1) Members of the advisory council shall include the following:

(a) The director of administrative services;

(b) The director of health;

(c) The medicaid director;

(d) The director of mental health and addiction services;

(e) The administrator of workers’ compensation.

(2) Members of the advisory council shall also include individuals who are working to address prescription drug availability and affordability in any of the following areas:

(a) Insurance;

(b) Local, state, and federal government service;

(c) Private industry;

(d) Organizations of faith;

(e) Health care providers;

(f) Consumer organizations;

(g) Prescription drug manufacturers;

(h) Prescription drug wholesale distributors;

(i) Pharmacists;

(j) Business organizations;

(k) Individuals concerned about mental health or substance abuse matters;

(l) Advocates for individuals struggling to afford prescription drugs.

The governor, the senate president, and the speaker of the house of representatives shall each appoint three members, each of whom represents at least one of the categories listed in divisions (A)(2)(a) to (l) of this section.

(B) Members shall serve without compensation. Initial appointments shall be made not later than sixty days after the effective date of this section. Vacancies shall be filled in the manner provided for original appointments.

(C) Not later than six months after the date of initial appointments under division (B) of this section, the advisory council shall submit a report to the governor, the general assembly, and the chairperson of the joint medicaid oversight committee in accordance with section 101.68 of the Revised Code. The report shall include recommendations on all of the following:

(1) How this state can best achieve prescription drug price transparency;

(2) New payment models or other avenues to create the most affordable environment for purchasing prescription drugs;

(3) Leveraging this state’s purchasing power across all state agencies, boards, commissions, and similar entities;

(4) Creating efficiencies across different health care systems, such as hospitals, the criminal justice system, treatment and recovery support programs, and employer-sponsored health insurance, to reduce duplicative service delivery across these systems, ensure that patients receive high quality and affordable prescription drugs, and support quality care and outcomes;

(5) Which critical outcomes can be measured and used to improve this state’s system of purchasing affordable prescribed drugs;

(6) How federal, state, and local resources are being used to optimize these outcomes and identify where the resources can be better coordinated or redirected to meet the needs of consumers in this state.

(D) State agencies, boards, commissions, and similar entities shall cooperate with and provide assistance to the advisory council as necessary for the advisory council to carry out its duties under this section.

(E) On the effective date of this amendment, the advisory council shall cease to exist. Thereafter, the joint medicaid oversight committee may examine any of the topics described in the report prepared by the former advisory council under division (C) of this section upon the request of a member of the committee.