Manning Testifies to Health Committee on Newly-Introduced Bills

Today, State Rep. Gayle Manning (R-North Ridgeville) testified to members of the Ohio House Health Committee in support of her two newly-introduced pieces of legislation, House Bills 5 and 37. 

House Bill 5 offers two different pathways for individuals to be licensed as a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor II (LCDC II). With increased overdose deaths last year due to the pandemic, Manning has introduced the bill to help with meeting the needs of patients facing opioid drug addictions and to address the workforce shortage for these counselors. Manning spoke to the bill in committee today.

“These pipelines will ensure individuals are ready to enter the workforce while meeting the need of treatment centers and patients all across Ohio,” said Manning.

Additionally, Manning discussed specifics on House Bill 37 regarding insulin costs within the Health Committee.

“I’ve heard that even though diabetic patients can get the dose of insulin dispensed by a pharmacist in an emergency situation, many of them are not because it is not covered by insurance, and they cannot afford it,” said Manning. “House Bill 37 ensures that if a patient is dispensed an emergency dose of insulin or other life-saving drug, it is covered as if it was a prescription filled under normal circumstances.”

Specifically, the bill allows up to three emergency doses of insulin covered by a health insurer for the calendar year. 

Manning notes that House Bill 37 builds upon previous legislation she introduced in the 131st General Assembly that changed the law to allow pharmacists to dispense a dose of insulin or other life-saving medication in an emergency situation to a patient. House Bill 5 is also similar legislation to a bill Manning introduced in the previous General Assembly that passed in the House.

This was the first hearing for both House Bills 5 and 37 and they await further committee action.