News & Advocacy

State Update: Ohio Drug Price Relief Act (2016)

posted: April 1, 2016

The Ohio Drug Price Relief Act has been an ongoing ballot initiative started by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which is located in Los Angeles, California and the Ohioans for Fair Drug Prices. The two groups have maintained that the goal of their campaign is to lower prescription drug costs for Ohioans. 

If successful, the act would require state agencies to pay no more for prescription drugs than the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, which pays 20 to 24 percent less than any other government program.

Recent inquiries about the validity of the 119,000 signatures collected have been a serious concern to Ohio’s Secretary of State John Husted. However, even after having over 35,000 of the signatures disqualified by a consulting firm that found discrepancies, the remaining 96,000 signatures allowed the initiative to move forward in the process.

Path to the Ballot:

• Petitioners needed to submit 1,000 signatures with the initial petition filing.
• The attorney general's office received the petition on July 22, 2015, and certified the measure on August 3, 2015.
• The Ohio Ballot Board approved the amendment on August 13, 2015
• Supporters have to collect 305,591 signatures by July 6, 2016, to get the initiative placed on the November 2016 ballot.
• On December 22, 2015, proponents affiliated with AIDS Healthcare Foundation and Ohioans for Fair Drug Prices reported they submitted 171,205 signatures for verification.
• The secretary of state's office certified the measure on February 4, 2016, and it was sent to the Ohio General Assembly.
• Lawmakers will reject, approve or revise the initiative. If they reject or revise the law, supporters would have to collect another 91,677 signatures to place the measure on the November ballot.