Ohio Senate OKs navigator bill

The Ohio Senate voted unanimously Tuesday to pass a bill that would establish the rules and regulations for navigators -- the professionals charged with providing consumer assistance on the newly created health insurance markets, or exchanges (Source: “Ohio Senate passes PPACA navigator bill,” Associated Press via LifeHealth Pro, March 20, 2013.)

Senate Bill 9 requires navigators to pass criminal background checks, and it specifies that navigators could not sell, solicit or negotiate health insurance.

A navigator also could not "provide advice concerning the substantive benefits, terms and conditions of a particular health benefit plan or offer advice about which health benefit plan is better or worse or suitable for a particular individual or entity," according to the bill text.

The Ohio House already has passed a similar bill.