H.B. No. 248 Summary

• Mandates health insurance coverage for prescription and over-the-counter contraceptive drugs and devices without cost-sharing, prior authorization limitations, or exclusions (applies to individual, group, and public employee benefit plans).

• Requires pharmacists to dispense hormonal contraceptive patches and oral contraceptives to adults without a prescription following a state board of pharmacy-established protocol, with restrictions on dispensing to minors without evidence of previous prescription.

• Establishes the "Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies Act," requiring hospitals with emergency services to provide sexual assault victims with information about emergency contraception, pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection testing/treatment, and follow-up care information.

• Updates school sex education requirements to include comprehensive, age-appropriate, medically accurate instruction on sexual health, contraceptive methods, and sexually transmitted infections, while continuing to emphasize abstinence.

• Creates an Ohio teen pregnancy prevention task force to advise the governor and general assembly on strategies to reduce teen pregnancies and submit annual reports on progress.