(The Center Square) – Concerns about changing medications could soon be eliminated for Ohio patients.
New proposed bipartisan legislation in the state Senate would limit what sponsors call nonmedical switching by insurance companies that want to force patients to use less expensive medications.
“People should be able to get medication they need at an expected and affordable price,” said Sen. Dr. Beth Liston, D-Dublin. “Insurance companies shouldn’t be able to unexpectedly change coverage or force people to switch to a different medicine. This bill will prohibit this unfair practice that hurts Ohioans.”
Liston and Sen. Terry Johnson, R-McDermott, say insurance providers have forced patients to switch from their current medication to a different one, often less expensive, for reasons unrelated to their health.
They also say people often choose insurance companies during open enrollment periods based on medication coverage, but companies can change medication coverage at any time, which can be harmful to patients.
A 2020 survey by the National Institute of Health showed nearly 75% of physicians were open to nonmedical switching of prescription medications without any reservations.
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Also, nearly 42% said they were not open to the change but did not challenge the request from an insurance company because of the company’s appeal process. Overall, only 26% of physicians who were concerned about the change decided to contact the insurance company.
The same survery showed more than 80% of doctors said the situations surrounding nonmedical switching puts them in an uncomfortable position trying to balance a patient’s needs and the doctor’s fiscal responsibilities of their practice. Nearly 60% said the practice of medical switching undermines a patient’s trust in their doctors.