Ohio House bill would explore small business wellness, coverage subsidies

A bill introduced late last month in the Ohio House would create a task force charged with exploring whether the state should use tax incentives to encourage small businesses to provide health coverage and wellness programs for their employees (Source: “Proposed state task force could be first step in Ohio for wellness, insurance incentives,” MedCity News, Aug. 11, 2009).

Bowling Green Republican Randy Garnder is the primary sponsor of House Bill 256, which would create a task force consisting mostly of legislators who would study the potential benefits of using public money to incentivize small businesses to offer health coverage and wellness programs. If the bill passes, the task force would be given six months to create a report for legislative leaders and the governor.