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Lawmakers Question BioOhio Compliance After Mental Health Purchase from Illinois; Department Says It Will Follow Up
Summary
Senator Chavez asked why a Department of Mental Health and Addiction purchase was marked BioOhio-compliant when the vendor is based in Illinois. A department representative said Ohio Pharmacy Services acts as a procurement/distribution partner and checks for the best price per the Revised Code; she offered to follow up.
On May 5 the Ohio Controlling Board approved an item for the Department of Mental Health and Addiction after board members questioned a procurement box marked “BioOhio compliant” for goods sourced from Illinois.
A board member, Senator Joe Chavez, noted BioOhio preference and asked why the item checked BioOhio compliance despite being purchased from an out-of-state supplier. A departmental representative, who identified herself as Ms. McMahon from the department, said Ohio Pharmacy Services serves as a procurement and distribution organization that sources goods and pharmaceuticals at wholesale cost and partners with state institutions. McMahon said the pharmacy services team checks multiple suppliers to obtain the best price “per the revised code” and offered to follow up and clarify why the BioOhio box was checked.
The board approved item 42 with no recorded objections. McMahon said she would check with pharmacy services and follow up through the board chair.
