Medical society opposes pharmacy test-and-treat pilot; committee advances SB 230 with written proponent support

Senate Bill 230, a proposal to authorize pharmacists to test and treat specified health conditions, drew a focused opponent statement from the Academy of Medicine of Cleveland and Northwest Ohio. Dr. David Cerullo, testifying in opposition, told the Senate Health Committee that pharmacy education does not sufficiently cover diagnosis and management and urged joint protocol development between the State Medical Board and the Ohio Board of Pharmacy.

"Pharmacists are experts in drug mechanisms and interactions," Dr. Cerullo said, "however, pharmacy training does not adequately cover the diagnosis and management of patient health status, which is why a team-based model and State Medical Board involvement are critical." He suggested that treatment protocols be written jointly and recommended reporting and documentation standards to ensure consistent patient records.

The committee recorded written proponent testimony from pharmacy and health organizations (Ohio Council of Veil Pharmacists, Kroger, Walgreens) and noted the bill was starred for a vote. Senator Romanchuk moved to favorably report Substitute Bill 230 to Rules and Reference; the committee voted and the bill was reported.

Committee members did not engage in extended debate on the floor of the hearing after the opponent statement but asked staff to review submitted written comments. The chair indicated votes and next steps would be handled through the Rules and Reference process.