U.S. Ohio senator expands access to affordable medications amid Ohioans’ struggles

President Donald Trump signed Sen. Jon Husted’s, R-Ohio, bipartisan bill, the Streamlined Market Access and Reform for Therapeutics Over-the-Counter Act, into law, which would help Ohioans who are not able to afford medications.

Husted’s press release stated that this is his second bill to be signed into law in the 10 months since he joined the Senate.

“Ohioans deserve access to affordable, high-quality health care. Reducing barriers to safe medications empowers the American public to take charge of their health without the fear of burning a hole through their pocket,” he said. “With the SMART OTC Act now law, families will have access to more over-the-counter medicines.” 

Husted said he always prioritized “making life easier and more affordable for Ohioans,” adding that this bill “continues that work as it helps people get the medications they need at a lower cost.”

According to the press release, the SMART OTC Act will modernize the Food and Drug Administration’s process for giving certain prescription drugs status as over-the-counter options.

State Rep. Beth Lear, R-Galena, also recently supported the passage of House Bill 2, the Health Care Sharing Ministries Freedom to Share Act, which clarifies that health care sharing ministries are not insurance businesses and are exempt from state insurance laws.

“These bills reflect our commitment to protecting Ohioans’ freedoms while strengthening community safety and embracing innovation,” Lear said. “From empowering families to make their own health care choices, to protecting our most vulnerable children, to preparing for the future of air mobility, this legislation moves Ohio forward.”

The bill now heads to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.

It was previously reported that health care costs have risen in recent years, with the Ohio Capitol Journal writing that insurance rates are expected to increase by double-digit percentages as tax credits on Affordable Care Act premiums are set to expire at the end of the year.

“As Ohioans begin to consider coverage for 2026, they can expect to pay substantially more for their premiums on the federal marketplace,” the Health Policy Institute of Ohio said in its policy brief.

The Columbus Dispatch also acknowledged in its report that the health insurance would cost even more for Ohioans in 2026. The news source wrote that this would be the largest percentage increase since 2010, “possibly as much as 9%, and it’s the fourth year in a row health insurance costs will rise.”