News & Advocacy

OAR Advocacy Day Highlights

posted: May 20, 2019

The OAR Joint Advocacy Day with the Arthritis Foundation was a huge success with record physician participation. There were 20 rheumatology professionals representing OAR in 22 of the 37 legislator and staff meetings scheduled for the day. OAR met with the Chairs of the Senate Insurance and House Health and Human Services Committees and numerous other rank and file members to discuss PBM Transparency, Non-medical Switching, and Accumulator Adjustment Program legislative priorities.

Advocates had meetings with some of the bill sponsors of the Step Therapy reform legislation that was signed into law on January 4, 2019 by former Governor John Kasich. The new law will apply to health plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2020; and applied to the Medicaid program beginning April 5, 2019, with some adjustments. The law requires an insurer to establish a transparent process for requesting a step therapy override. Exemptions and appeals are to be granted if the patient has tried the required prescription drug and the treatment was discontinued due to lack of efficacy or effectiveness, diminished effect, or adverse event. OAR is pleased that step therapy override determinations in Ohio will now be based on clinical practice guidelines, however more utilization management reforms are needed.

Here are some photo highlights from the day.
(click for larger view)

OAR Treasurer Dr. Ed Goldberger (left) pictured with State Rep. Beth Liston, MD.

OAR Vice-President Dr. Elisabeth Rotor (center) pictured with Arthritis Foundation Advocate Mary Riedel (left) and Senator David Burke (right).

OAR rheumatology advocates at the Advocacy Day on April 4, 2019.