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As Introduced
136th
General Assembly
Regular
Session
H. B. No. 388
2025-2026
Representatives Williams, Jarrells
To
enact section 124.826 of the Revised Code
regarding
reimbursements to state employees and elected state officials for
GLP-1 drug costs.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section
1.
That
section 124.826 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:
Sec.
124.826.
(A)
As used in this section:
(1)
"GLP-1 drug" means a drug included within the class of
drugs known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists.
(2)
"Pharmacy" has the same meaning as in section 4729.01 of
the Revised Code.
(3)
"Physician" means an individual authorized under Chapter
4731. of the Revised Code to practice medicine and surgery or
osteopathic medicine and surgery.
(B)
Notwithstanding section 3901.71 of the Revised Code or any other
provision of the Revised Code to the contrary, and subject to
divisions (C), (D), and (E) of this section, beginning on the
effective date of this section, the health care benefits provided
under section 124.82 of the Revised Code shall include reimbursements
to cover out-of-pocket costs that a state employee or elected state
official pays to purchase a supply of a GLP-1 drug that meets all of
the following conditions:
(1)
The drug is approved by the federal food and drug administration for
chronic weight management.
(2)
The drug is purchased from a manufacturer's direct-to-consumer
program or through a pharmacy or other entity participating in a
manufacturer's direct-to-consumer program.
(3)
The drug is not a compounded version of a GLP-1 drug.
(C)
Except as provided in division (F) of this section, no employee or
official may apply to receive a reimbursement under this section for
a period exceeding twenty-four consecutive months. The
twenty-four-month period during which an employee or official may
apply begins in the month in which the employee or official first
applies for a reimbursement under this section. No reimbursement
shall exceed either of the amounts described under division (E) of
this section.
(D)
For each month in which an employee or official pays out of pocket to
purchase a supply of a GLP-1 drug described under division (B) of
this section, the employee or official may apply to the director of
administrative services for a reimbursement. The employee or official
shall include in the reimbursement application both of the following:
(1)
Proof that, at the time treatment is initiated, the employee's or
official's body mass index is at least thirty, as determined by a
physician;
(2)
The amount that the employee or official paid out of pocket to
purchase a supply of a GLP-1 drug described under division (B) of
this section.
(E)(1)
An employee or official whom the director determines is eligible for
a reimbursement under this section shall be reimbursed in either of
the following amounts:
(a)
For any month of the first year during which the employee or official
is eligible for reimbursement, not more than five hundred dollars;
(b)
For any month of the second year during which the employee or
official is eligible for reimbursement, an amount equal to one-half
of the cost the employee or official paid out of pocket to purchase a
supply of a GLP-1 drug described under division (B) of this section,
not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars.
(2)
If the director determines that an employee or official is not
eligible for a reimbursement in any month, the employee or official
shall not receive a reimbursement for that month. An employee or
official whom the director determines is not eligible for a
reimbursement in any month during the twenty-four-month period
described under division (C) or (F)(2) of this section is not
precluded from applying for a reimbursement in any subsequent month
during that period.
(F)(1)
Not earlier than six months after the previous twenty-four-month
period during which an employee or official applies for
reimbursements under this section elapses, the employee or official
may apply to the director to seek reimbursements under this section
for a subsequent period not exceeding twenty-four consecutive months.
The employee or official shall include in the application proof that,
at the time of application, the employee's or official's weight has
increased by at least twenty per cent of the total amount of weight
the employee or official lost during the previous twenty-four-month
period, measured as of the last day of that period.
(2)
If the director determines the employee's or official's weight has
increased by the amount specified under division (F)(1) of this
section, the director shall approve the employee's or official's
application. An employee or official whose application is approved
may apply for reimbursements under this section for a subsequent
twenty-four-month period.
(3)
If the director determines the employee's or official's weight has
not increased by the amount specified under division (F)(1) of this
section, the director shall not approve the employee's or official's
application.
(G)
The director shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the
Revised Code to implement this section.