House Bill 125 Passes the Senate

The Ohio Senate has unanimously passed Am. Sub House Bill 125 – the Healthcare Simplification Act, which was supported by the AMCNO. The bill is composed of reforms that are meant to bring transparency to the contracting process, fairness in contracting, and a standardized and time-efficient physician credentialing process. The bill will go to the Ohio House of Representatives for a vote of concurrence and then will go to Governor Ted Strickland for his signature. 

The AMCNO had hoped that the bill would contain additional items to assist physicians when dealing with health contracting entities such as complete elimination of the use of an all products clause and a most favored nation clause (MFNs). The bill calls for a moratorium on MFNs in physician contracts while a study commission reviews the usage of such clauses in health insuring contracts. The bill also calls for the formation of an advisory committee to review eligibility and real-time adjudication issues – with the committee to report back in 2009. The AMCNO will continue to monitor the activities of both the commission and the advisory committee and provide information to our members. Members that would like an AMCNO prepared synopsis of the bill may contact the AMCNO offices at 216-520-1000.