From Cancers to Chronic Illnesses: Ohio House Bill 177 Seeks to Ease Out-of-Pocket Drug Costs for Patients

In Ohio, House Bill 177 aims to make medication co-pays more accessible and affordable for patients. The bill is currently being debated in the state legislature, with similar legislation already passed in at least 19 other states, including Kentucky and West Virginia.

The issue at hand is that insurance companies are not required to apply a co-pay to a patient’s out-of-pocket deductible for the year. This means that patients often end up paying more for their medication than they anticipated, even if they have insurance coverage.

Leo Almeida, director of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, emphasized the importance of making healthcare more affordable for everyone. For cancer patients, high co-pay costs can be especially burdensome, often reaching hundreds of dollars per medication. Many people rely on co-pay assistance programs, charities, churches, or other community organizations to help cover these costs. However, when insurance companies do not count these co-pays towards the patient’s out-of-pocket deductible for the year, it leaves many people struggling to afford their medication.

Almeida noted that this legislation has the potential to make a significant impact on the lives of Ohioans by making healthcare more affordable and accessible. If passed, the bill will help patients reach their deductible sooner and result in lower costs for medications and medical procedures throughout the year.