Sub House Bill 73

There have been a lot of questions surfacing regarding Sub House Bill 73, the text of which can be found here. The bill is set for a senate hearing on June 12th, 2024.

I am much appreciative of those who attended the meeting this morning to share their experiences and thoughts regarding this bill!

The purpose of Ohio GAPNA is to promote high standards of health care for older adults through advanced gerontological nursing practice, education, research and advocacy. 

Many proponent testimonies refer to the COVID-19 pandemic in quotation marks. As a nurse practitioner in long term care, I saw first hand the very real effects of the very real disease. I also read the research showing progressively higher mounting evidence against the use of ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine as treatment for the virus. Pharmacists at that time were put in the impossible position to balance a limited supply of medication for patients with actual need and the massive influx of new prescriptions for off-label use by misinformed providers trying to help their patients. 

Pharmacists should not be criminally prosecuted for using their professional judgment and fulfilling their role as patient care team members in cases like these. We are profoundly grateful for the checks and balances pharmacists provide to our teams.

Furthermore, there are concerning implications in the bill which affect those of us who prescribe in long term care facilities. The law would require temporary privileges for any outpatient prescriber to order an off-label medication for a SNF resident that the SNF team is unwilling to prescribe.

See this video provided by one of our pharmacist colleagues explaining more about the bill.

In consideration of our pharmacist colleagues, and in support of evidence-based medicine, Ohio GAPNA opposes HB 73. 

Find your senator and use the template below to urge them to oppose House Bill 73!

Senator [Schuring],

As a nurse practitioner, I find the insight of my pharmacist colleagues invaluable and am appalled at the implications of House Bill 73.

House Bill 73 would strip pharmacists of their right to refuse to dispense medications in the face of scarcity or lack of indication.

This legislation is not only unnecessary, as prescribers order off-label medications frequently which are filled without any delay as long as there exists supportive evidence for use and no contraindication or safety issue; but unsafe, as the ability (and legal requirement) of a pharmacist to refuse to dispense off label medications is sometimes the only leverage to require prescribers to clarify or adjust a potentially dangerous prescription.

As a prescriber, community leader, and your constituent, I urge you to vote against House Bill 73. 

Sincerely,

[Deborah Carmany, MSN, APRN, AGPCNP-BC]

For more information, comments, questions, or concerns, please email ohgapna@gmail.com