On February 5, the Ohio House of Representatives passed House Bill 412, a bill that creates the Ohio Rare Disease Advisory Council. This bill is an attempt to improve public policy for people with rare “orphan” diseases. The Rare Disease Advisory Council will serve as an educational resource to all stakeholders about the ways in which rare disease patients interact with the health system.
Almost 1 in 10 Americans has a rare disease, and more than 90% of rare diseases have no Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment.
The bill will now move on to the Ohio Senate for consideration. The Ohio Academy of Family Physicians supports passage of this legislation.