Pavliga's Bipartisan Bill Addressing Opioid Crisis Passes in Ohio House

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Gail Pavliga (R-Portage County) announces that her bipartisan legislation providing a solution in addressing the opioid crisis passed within the Ohio House. The legislation, under House Bill 193, requires Schedule II prescriptions to be done electronically except under certain circumstances. Pavliga is a sponsor of the bill.

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. “Thank you to all my colleagues who supported and advanced this important bill today as we work to provide real solutions to this opioid crisis that our state faces.”

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.

Testimony during the committee process cited experiences with individuals providing pharmacies with suspicious or fraudulent scripts in order to illegally obtain these types of drugs.

In total, House Bill 193 had five hearings within the Ohio House Health Committee with several organization testimonies before being unanimously approved earlier this month.

House Bill 193 now heads to the Senate for further consideration.