Manning's Bill for Life-Saving Prescription Accessibility Signed into Law

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Gayle Manning (R-North Ridgeville) announced today that Governor DeWine signed her legislation, which pushes for patients to have more accessibility when it comes to emergency prescription refills. As the primary sponsor, Manning spoke to the bill when it passed the Ohio House in 2021.

“House Bill 37 expands on the 2016 law. The bill increases the number of times a pharmacist may dispense without a prescription a life-saving medication in a calendar year from one to three,” said Manning. 

In testimony submitted to the House Health Committee, Dan and Judy Houdeshell, of Avon Lake, stressed that “now is the time for Ohio to enhance this law. Ohio and several other states used their version of Kevin’s Law to help pharmacists and their patients get through this pandemic.” The Houdeshells noted that four states are in the process of enhancing their versions of Kevin’s Law.

Manning referenced that the legislation builds upon previous legislation, under “Kevin’s Law,” which she introduced in the 131st General Assembly. The law change allows pharmacists to dispense a dose of insulin or other life-saving medication in an emergency situation to a patient.

Specifically, under the new legislation of House Bill 37, it continues to assist patients with medication accessibility by enacting the following: 

• Increases the number of times a pharmacist may dispense without a prescription a life-saving medication in an emergency situation from one time per calendar year to up to three times per calendar year.
•  The patient’s insurance will cover the emergency refill as if it were part of the benefit plan
•  Ensures that the emergency refills are not consecutive
• The first emergency refill is a thirty-day supply; if the second and third emergency refills are utilized in the same calendar year, a pharmacist will dispense a dose that does not exceed a seven day supply or the lowest available supply