Proponent Testimony, HB 188
Chairwoman Jones, Vice Chair Lehner, Ranking Minority Member Tavares, and members of the Senate
Health & Human Services Committee,
Thank you for the opportunity to provide my support for House Bill 188. I am the Director of the
Complex Epilepsy Clinic at Nationwide Children’s and an Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics and
Neurology at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. In addition, I am an associate medical
director for Partners for Kids (PFK). PFK is a subsidiary of Nationwide Children's Hospital and serves as
the primary accountable care organization for most of the Medicaid children in central Ohio. In my
practice of epilepsy, medication is essential to the treatment of epilepsy and I have had the opportunity to
practice with a pharmacist for many years.
I have seen firsthand how pharmacy can be utilized in such a fashion and where current restrictions
hinder healthcare delivery. The pharmacist is essential to our practice in evaluating complex medication
issues and to optimize medication treatment plans. The pharmacist recommends necessary safety
monitoring labs and follows up with dose adjustment recommendations after the lab results return.
Patients (and physicians) trust pharmacists, and they are well trained. However, pharmacists do not
have the ability to independently make recommendations and act on results related to medication issues,
which delays healthcare and may lead to increased unnecessary healthcare utilization.
The law revisions outlined in House Bill 188 allow for more efficient and effective care. The purpose is
not to replace the physician; but to allow the physician to delegate responsibilities to a pharmacist such
as ordering labs, making medication adjustments, authorizing medication refills, initiating and
discontinuing unsafe or unneeded therapy.
Beyond these improvements in patient care, health care savings may also be realized. For every dollar
invested in pharmacist care, $5 in healthcare cost savings are realized for patients and payors.
Pharmacists understand insurance formularies and drug costs and can recommend equally safe and
effective, yet less expensive therapeutic alternatives.
I urge you to support House Bill 188 on behalf of all Ohioans. I strongly believe this bill will benefit
patients, pharmacists, physicians, and the whole multidisciplinary team. Ohio can yet again serve as a
model for others to follow. Thank you once again for the opportunity to present support for House Bill
188. I am happy to take any questions you may have.
Anup Patel, M.D.
Associate Medical Director Partners for Kids
Associate Director Child Neurology Residency Program
Director Complex Epilepsy Clinic
Assistant Professor Neurology and Pediatrics
Nationwide Children’s Hospital and The Ohio State University College of Medicine
700 Children’s Drive
Columbus, OH 43205
Phone: 614-722-4625