Ohio bill targeting abortion pill could impact other prescriptions

A Republican-backed bill aimed at reducing access to abortion pills could make it harder to buy other prescription drugs, too

A Republican-backed bill aimed at reducing access to abortion pills in Ohio could make it harder to buy other prescription drugs, too.

House Bill 324, which passed the Ohio House 59-28 on Nov. 19, would require an in-person visit and follow-up appointment for prescribed drugs with “severe adverse effects” in more than 5% of cases. Doctors couldn’t prescribe these medications via a virtual appointment using telehealth.

“Many Ohioans are receiving medications from providers they may never meet face-to-face,” said Rep. Adam Mathews, R-Lebanon, who called the proposed law “life-saving.”

If the bill becomes law, the Ohio Department of Health would be required to create a list of dangerous drugs with a certain percentage of “severe adverse effects.” Severe adverse effects are defined as death, infection or hemorrhaging requiring hospitalization, organ failure or sepsis.

The bill is aimed at mifepristone, a drug used in medication abortions. The Center for Christian Virtue, Ohio Right to Life and Catholic Conference of Ohio support the change, which they say will protect women and children from risky medications.

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio called the bill a medically unnecessary barrier to a safe and effective medication. Ohioans voted in 2023 to protect access to abortion and other reproductive decisions in the state constitution.

“House Bill 324 is in direct conflict with the Ohio Constitution because it seeks to use junk science to override widely accepted, evidence-based standards of care,” said Jaime Miracle, deputy director of Abortion Forward, which helped pass the 2023 measure.

“It is very clear that it doesn’t matter what the people of Ohio stand and fight for,” said Rep. Desiree Tims, D-Dayton, before voting against the bill. “There are just so many lawmakers who are obsessed with a woman and her vagina.”

However, the bill could also make it more difficult to access prescription medications that the Ohio Department of Health deems too dangerous, from antidepressants to Amoxicillin, said Rep. Rachel Baker, D-Cincinnati. “It really could spill over to anything.”

The Ohio Council of Retail Merchants initially opposed the bill because of restrictions placed on pharmacists, but changes to the bill now put the onus on doctors to check if a drug is on the state health department’s list.

The Ohio Senate must review the bill before it heads to Gov. Mike DeWine.

State government reporter Jessie Balmert can be reached at jbalmert@gannett.com or @jbalmert on X.

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