COLUMBUS, Ohio, March 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- An informal
industry group committed to ensuring that Ohio consumers have access to
affordable, high quality health care today issued a joint statement upon
the passage of H.B. 125. Comprised of the American Association of Preferred
Provider Organizations (AAPPO) and the Ohio Association of Health Plans
(OAHP), the industry group continues to be concerned that H.B. 125, the
Healthcare Simplification Act, isn't necessarily as simple as its name
suggests.

    "While our industry group believes there are some elements of this
legislation that will meet our goal of providing affordable, high quality
health care, there is concern about the additional administrative burdens
that all parties will incur -- running counter to the intent of
simplification. Many of our concerns surround the additional time, money
and paperwork that may result from the requirements, including limitations
in some cases on allowing doctors and health plans to simply communicate by
phone. All parties agree that caring for patients should be the doctor's
top priority. However, H.B. 125 does nothing to expand access to providers
or services and does not reduce costs.

    "Passage of H.B. 125 today was the result of discussions facilitated by
lawmakers between physician, preferred provider network (PPN) and the
health plan communities. Our industry group's number one priority is to
continually improve the health care experience for all Ohio consumers and
to ensure they have access to affordable, quality health care.
Unfortunately, that priority had to take a backseat due to the provider
community's insistence on pursuing passage of H.B. 125. We are disappointed
that time was taken away from efforts to find workable solutions to the
more pressing issues that prevent over 1 million Ohioans from being able to
afford needed health care services.

    "As H.B. 125 is implemented, it will be the responsibility of the
physician, preferred provider network and health plan communities to
monitor the implementation to ensure there are no unintended consequences
that negatively impact Ohio consumers' access to needed health care
services."

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