Pavliga's drug law passes Ohio house, would require electronic prescriptions

Bipartisan legislation co-sponsored by State Rep. Gail Pavliga (R-Portage County) addressing the opioid crisis has been approved by the Ohio House.

House Bill 193 requires Schedule II prescriptions to be done electronically, except under certain circumstances. Schedule II drugs include Vicodin, methadone, oxycodone, Ritalin, methamphetamines and fentanyl.

According to the American Medical Association, several reports have indicated a significant rise in opioid overdose deaths in Ohio, with the likely cause being effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I was happy to work with several organizations to ensure we got the intricate details of this bill correct,” said Pavliga.

Under the legislation, Schedule II drugs will have to be prescribed through electronic means, except in certain circumstances. This will help reduce situations where individuals try to obtain Schedule II drugs from pharmacies with stolen or fraudulent scripts. Additionally, the bill provides a safe harbor provision for pharmacists.

Pavliga notes that nearly half the states around the country have enacted mandatory e-prescribing of Scheduled II drugs. Due to this, it would give Ohio the ability to connect with those states and learn what has worked and what modifications might need to be made.

House Bill 193 will head to the senate for further consideration.