Healthcare (Medicare)

This bill allows hospice care providers to enter into agreements with facilities that house terminally ill homeless individuals, enabling the delivery of specialized end-of-life services. To qualify for this partnership, the facility must ensure that all residents have a life expectancy of six months or less, lack family support or financial means for care, and do not currently receive payment from residents or federal programs like Medicaid or Medicare. Additionally, the law permits these facilities to assist residents with taking non-injectable medications under specific medical supervision and requires strict adherence to state and federal health and safety standards.

This bill requires Medicaid managed care organizations to cover pharmacogenomic testing for Medicaid enrollees diagnosed with depression or anxiety when a prescriber is considering changes to their medication due to known gene-drug interactions. The testing must meet specific criteria, including Medicare coverage under a local determination, and managed care plans can only impose prior authorization if they provide a clear, timely process requiring minimal documentation. The bill also establishes enforcement measures, including fines and potential contract termination, for organizations that fail to comply with these coverage requirements.

To amend sections 3923.33, 3923.331, 3923.332, 3923.337, 3923.338, 3923.339, and 3923.42 and to enact section 3923.3310 of the Revised Code to provide Medigap policies for Medicare-eligible individuals under the age of 65.