Ernest Boyd of the Ohio Pharmacists Association says simply getting chronic-disease patients to take their medications can reduce overall health care spending. The right incentives — often through employers — can get patients listen to their physicians.

Senate Bill 119 would require pharmacists, pharmacy interns and technicians to report mistakes related to dangerous drugs within two weeks to the state Board of Pharmacy. Not doing so would be a fourth-degree misdemeanor, according to the bill.

Trade groups are preparing a legislative push to shield pharmacists from criminal prosecutions — disturbed over the pursuit of a Cleveland-area pharmacist after his mistake contributed to the death of a young girl. “Criminal prosecution sends the false message that clinical perfection is an attainable goal, and that ‘good’ health-care practitioners never make errors and should be criminally punished if they are involved in an error,” says one interest group.