S.B. 104 Summary

• Establishes the Ohio Health Care Plan to provide universal and affordable health care coverage to all Ohio residents and individuals employed in Ohio, including homeless and migrant workers.

• Creates the Ohio Health Care Agency administered by a 15-member Ohio Health Care Board (14 elected members from 7 regional districts plus the Director of Health), with authority to negotiate provider rates, manage budgets, and oversee plan operations.

• Provides a comprehensive benefit package including inpatient/outpatient care, emergency services, prescription drugs, mental health services, dental care, vision and hearing care, and transportation services with no copayments or cost-sharing for participants.

• Funds the plan through federal waivers for Medicare and Medicaid, payroll taxes on employers (up to 3.85%), gross receipts taxes on businesses (up to 3%), and progressive income taxes on high earners, with administrative costs capped at 5% of the system budget.

• Includes protections for displaced workers in the health insurance industry through compensation and training programs, requires all providers to participate, and establishes regional health advisory committees to oversee complaints and dispute resolution.