Meet Willa Bluestone, Director of Policy and Workforce Strategies
To gain the momentum necessary for this industry’s long-term success, we need to strongly advocate for public policies that are supportive of life sciences priorities, and that will provide the necessary funding and infrastructure for growth. We see real opportunities to accelerate our efforts here, so we’ve hired straight from the Statehouse.
“OLS is prepared to play a much more active role in public policy than in years past,” Willa announced in a recent communication to members. “We recognize that we are in a unique position to convene industry professionals with Legislators to ensure policies foster growth, promote innovation, and increase patient access and affordability.”
Willa, who most recently served as a Legislative Aide in the Ohio House of Representatives, has been meeting with members across the state and is activating several important initiatives to build our policy-shaping presence. Click here to learn more about Willa.
House Bill 715, a Public Policy Update from Willa Bluestone:
OLS was recently made aware of a bill introduced in the Ohio Senate to cap the price of insulin at $35 per 30-day supply. Senate Bill 61 was introduced by Senators Hearcel Craig and Nathan Manning. The official bill language may be found here (pdf). As of today, this bill has not received any hearings or been assigned to a Senate Committee. We will continue to monitor this legislation and keep our members updated.
In addition, we have also been notified that a co-sponsor request was recently distributed among Members of the Ohio House of Representatives concerning the reintroduction of a bill to establish a Canadian Drug Importation Program for the State of Ohio. Some of you may recall this bill from the previous General Assembly as House Bill 715. The bill has been redrafted to place oversight authority with the Board of Pharmacy as opposed to the Department of Health, as we saw last year. Representatives Tom Young and Nick Santucci are expected to sponsor the legislation.
As of today, the bill has not been officially introduced. We have been in contact with Representative Santucci and will ensure that our members are kept apprised of the situation.
Ohio Life Sciences is prepared to play a much more active role in public policy than in years past. We recognize that we are in a unique position to convene industry professionals with Legislators to ensure policies foster growth, promote innovation, and increase patient access and affordability.
As always, please feel free to reach out if you have specific policy questions or would like to discuss public policy further.