Husted leads bipartisan bill to expand access to safe medicines

July 30, 2025
“Ohioans deserve access to affordable, high-quality health care. That’s why I introduced a bill to cut unnecessary FDA barriers and make proven, over-the-counter medicines more accessible—helping lower costs and improve health for families across our state.”
WASHINGTON – Sens. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) today introduced the Streamlined Market Access and Reform for Therapeutics Over-the-Counter (SMART OTC) Act, which would modernize the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) process for giving certain prescription drugs status as over-the-counter (OTC) options.

“Ohioans deserve access to affordable, high-quality health care. That’s why I introduced a bill to cut unnecessary FDA barriers and make proven, over-the-counter medicines more accessible—helping lower costs and improve health for families across our state,”said Husted.

“As Americans face sky-high costs, including for prescription drugs, this bipartisan legislation will help increase patient access to low-cost medications by requiring the FDA to more clearly communicate the agency’s process for switching medications from prescription to nonprescription status. I’ll continue to work with my colleagues across the aisle to lower health care costs for Granite Staters and ensure that families across the country can access the lifesaving care that they need,”said Hassan.

Health care costs have risen in recent years. Part of those costs arise when safe, proven medications are stuck behind the prescription counter. Every dollar spent on OTC medicationssavesthe U.S. health care system $7.33.

The SMART OTC Act builds on Husted’s work toprovide high-quality health carefor Ohioans.

Husted’s bill would:

Full text of the bill is availablehere.