On December 2, the Ohio Senate passed House Bill 412, legislation that creates the Ohio Rare Disease Council. The Ohio Academy of Family Physicians supports this legislation as an attempt to improve public policy for people with rare “orphan” diseases. The legislation requires broad participation from different health care sectors in Ohio. 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.
An amendment was added in the Senate that will need concurrence from the House of Representatives. Because the amendment was added with an emergency clause this will be on a fast track and will be voted on by the House on December 8. Once the House signs off, the bill will be sent to the Governor for signature.