Insurance-Related State of Ohio Budget Bill Language Effective Sept. 30

The State of Ohio's biennial budget bill for fiscal years 2026-27, House Bill 96, includes several key provisions related to insurance that became effective on Sept. 30. These provisions address a range of policy areas that may affect insurance consumers and the insurance industry, as well as other stakeholders.

Below is a summary of the enacted insurance-related language:

Health Plan Issuer Payment Method and Disclosure Requirements

Health plan issuers must offer all reasonably available payment methods to providers, including checks and electronic funds transfer, and ensure that at least one method is fee-free. They are prohibited from charging fees for payments made by check or electronic fund transfer and cannot require providers to accept payment by credit card. Providers must have the option to opt out of credit card payments and choose another method. If any payment method carries a fee, issuers must disclose the fee amount before the first payment or upon changes and advise providers to check with payment processors for additional third-party fees. Payment method change requests must be implemented within 31 business days, remain in effect until changed by the provider, and may also be updated if no payment has been made in over a year, without any fees for making such changes. R.C. 3901.3815

Reimbursement for Services Provided by Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists

Prohibits private insurers from paying different reimbursement rates for the same covered service based solely on whether it was performed by a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) or a physician. However, it allows insurers to vary reimbursement rates based on quality or performance measures, ensuring that payment differences must be tied to measurable outcomes rather than provider type. R.C. 3902.631

Elimination of the Oath Requirement for Certain ODI Licenses

Removes the requirement that applications for a Managing General Agent license and a Public Insurance Adjuster certificate of authority must be verified under oath, simplifying the application process. R.C.3905.72, R.C. 3951.03

Long-Term Care Insurance Continuing Education Requirements

Aligns the deadline for a long-term care insurance agent to complete the four hours of continuing education required by continuing law with the agent's two-year license renewal period, as opposed to the two-year-period beginning Jan. 1. Also, it makes selling, soliciting, or negotiating long-term care insurance before satisfying the continuing education requirement an unfair and deceptive practice in the business of insurance, in contrast to current law, under which simply failing to satisfy the continuing education requirement qualifies as such. R.C. 3923.443

Assisting End-Stage Renal Disease Patients

The Ohio Department of Insurance must evaluate Medicare application requirements, review relevant state policies, identify potential Medicare eligibility gaps for these individuals, take steps to address those gaps to improve access to Medicare benefits, and develop a process to help them apply for Medicare. By Sept. 1, 2026, the Ohio Department of Insurance must submit a report to the General Assembly detailing its findings and the feasibility of providing this assistance. R.C. 3901.047

Private Insurance Outreach Program

During state fiscal year 2027, the Ohio Department of Insurance is required to establish an outreach program to assist Medicaid recipients in obtaining private insurance. Section: 739.20

Motor Vehicle Financial Products

This provision exempts certain vehicle-related contracts - such as excess wear and use waivers, vehicle value protection agreements, and under-speed vehicle contracts - from state insurance laws. It bans requiring consumers to purchase these waivers as a condition of a lease and expands exemptions for debt cancellation products, including those offering benefits toward a new vehicle. These products must be clearly labeled as optional and are exempt from state limits on interest and finance charges. The provision also sets a 30-day cancellation period for vehicle value protection agreements. R.C. 1310.251, R.C. 1317.05, R.C. 3905.426

Assigned Risk Plan Changes

Requires agents to confirm that Assigned Risk Plan applicants cannot get auto insurance from at least five authorized insurers they represent before applying to the Assigned Risk Plan. R.C. 4509.70

Accident Report Alleging Uninsured Driver or Owner

Allows any injured party to report uninsured drivers to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. R.C. 4509.06