Advocating for Accessible Health Care: Our Perspective on House Bill 96

By Stephen Roller, President & CEO, Primary Health Solutions
Originally presented to the Ohio House Medicaid Committee, March 5, 2025

At Primary Health Solutions (PHS), our mission has always been clear: deliver high-quality, accessible, and compassionate care to the communities we serve. As President and CEO, I recently had the opportunity to testify before the Ohio House Medicaid Committee on House Bill 96—the state’s FY 2026–2027 operating budget. What’s at stake is not just funding, but the future of health care access for tens of thousands of Ohioans.

Who We Serve

Primary Health Solutions is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) with 15 locations across Butler and Montgomery Counties, serving more than 66,000 patients annually. Our services go far beyond primary care. We offer:

Family medicine, pediatrics, and women’s health
Behavioral health and pharmacy services
Vision care, orthopedics, cardiology, and weight management
School-based health centers and WIC services
Express Care and Express Dental walk-in services
Innovative dental programs, including teledentistry and residency training

We are proud of the role we play in Ohio’s healthcare ecosystem—and we are deeply concerned about proposed provisions in HB 96 that could threaten access to care for the most vulnerable among us.

Investments That Work

We commend Governor DeWine and the Ohio Legislature for supporting:

School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs)
The Ohio Primary Care Workforce Initiative (OPCWI)
Dental and vision services for underserved children

These investments are helping us shape the future of healthcare. Thanks to OPCWI, we offer staff stipends to support clinical training—and it’s working. Over half of our 63 providers were trained at PHS locations. That’s not just a pipeline; it’s a lifeline for underserved communities.

“52% of our current providers were trained at one of our facilities.”

But Some Provisions Could Harm Patients

Two provisions in HB 96 are deeply concerning:

Automatic Discontinuation of Medicaid Expansion Coverage
If the federal match drops below 90%, the bill proposes to immediately end Medicaid coverage for Group VIII.
➤ At PHS, 67% of our patients rely on Medicaid. This would result in a $1.2 million budget shortfall in 2025, severely disrupting care.
Restrictions on 340B Program and Contract Pharmacies
The 340B program is not taxpayer-funded—it’s sustained by pharmaceutical dollars. Yet, it helps us provide vital services. Our 340B savings exceed what we receive from Medicaid or federal 330 grants.

The 340B Program: A Pillar of Community Health

In 2024 alone, we used 340B savings to:

Deliver $602,000 worth of medications at no cost to patients
Save our patients over $5 million in out-of-pocket costs
Support SBHCs, women’s health, and vision care programs
Provide no-cost medication delivery, improving adherence and outcomes

We’re also opening Butler County’s first Maternal-Fetal Medicine Clinic, making Level II ultrasounds accessible locally. This work directly targets Ohio’s maternal and infant health priorities.

“We saved our patients in Southwest Ohio $5,029,594 in prescription costs in 2024.”

A Call to Protect Access

Since 2020, pharmaceutical companies have chipped away at 340B program savings. We’ve managed to adapt, but the proposed changes in HB 96 leave us with no more levers to pull. Services will be cut, and patient care will suffer.

We are grateful to the Ohio Department of Medicaid for collaborating with the Ohio Association of Community Health Centers (OACHC) on potential paths forward. But ultimately, we urge the General Assembly to:

✅ Preserve Medicaid coverage for vulnerable Ohioans
✅ Protect the full functionality of the 340B program

These decisions will determine whether Ohio’s healthcare providers can continue to meet the growing needs of our communities.

At PHS, we’re committed to being more than just a healthcare provider—we are a trusted partner in our patients’ lives. We believe every Ohioan deserves access to affordable, high-quality care, and we stand ready to work with state leaders to protect and expand that access.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership.