Ohio ARA State Legislative Concerns

Ohio ARA State Legislative Concerns The Ohio ARA has a watchful eye on several issues that have a direct impact on retirees and seniors throughout Ohio. A short year end status summary is provided on the Diabetes Cost Reduction Act, Telephone Deregulation, Ohio Home First vs Nursing Home Placement, and the Ohio State Budget.

Diabetes Cost Reduction Act HB 81 Passes the Ohio House The Ohio House passed HB 81 Tuesday December 8th, 58-38, picking up bipartisan support. House passage now means the debate to mandate coverage of diabetes testing, medical supplies, medication, and education now goes to the Republican controlled Senate. Ohio is one of four states that does not require diabetes to be covered as part of a standard package of insurance benefits. The Ohio ARA is engaged in this health care justice issue because of the attention and dedication of Barbara Davis, president of the Central Ohio CLC Retirees Council. Congratulations for a first step victory. http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=128_HB_81

Telephone Deregulation SB162 HB 276 - Hearings Continue The Ohio Senate passed its version SB 162 and sent it to the House. Some amendments were adopted to safeguard consumers and the lifeline program for those who live on limited income and need a hard line for medical emergencies. Opposition to the telephone deregulation bill continues to grow with major stakeholders and advocates for older Ohioans and vulnerable seniors testimony against the bill in the past month. Many of Ohio ARA’s partners expressed their deep concern over reductions in lifeline services, a low cost minimal usage hard line available to many medically fragile retirees and seniors. See the fact sheets at the Ohio Consumer Counsel website http://www.pickocc.org/telecom/deregulation/index.shtml for more information. We urge you to call state representatives in their district offices to express your concerns. Analysis of the bill as passed http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/analyses.cfm?ID=128_SB_162&ACT=As%20Passed%20by%20Senate

SB 214/HB 398 Home First: Changing the Nursing Home Placement Bias in Ohio Currently older Ohioans too often get sent to nursing homes from their hospital stays. That is not necessary. The current Medicaid law requires institutionalization to satisfy a paper trail and those who want the dollars. Better care is available in the community at lower a cost to the consumer and the taxpayer. The Ohio Home First bills will change that law bias. Hospitals and doctors would have to offer us and our families the choice to stay in our own home or assisted living first and help us find the resources and services necessary for that to happen.

The Ohio ARA will be tracking this legislation that was recently introduced in the Ohio Senate and now has a companion bill introduced in the Ohio House on Tuesday December 15. Ohio ARA state director attended the press conference to show support for the coalition. The coalition headed by the Ohio Association of Area Agencies on Aging will be working to do an education advocacy program around the legislation to move the bills together. Both the House and Senate bills have strong bipartisan sponsorship because of the fiscal savings that can be achieved. Enclosed is an informational sheet to copy and share. See Bills at: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us

HB 318 The Ohio Budget Fix Last minute brinksmanship games played out in the Republican senate majority caucus internal fight over who will be their next leader and who wants to claim they were not for increased revenue when they run for Congress. Finally a deal was struck on Thursday December 17. The freeze in a tax roll back for two years generates 851 million dollars and buys another 2.1 billion in federal revenue coming back to Ohio. This does not give us new service but stops more drastic cuts. It seems the majority that wanted the services to be delivered were not and are not willing to ask for, or defend, the needs we share in common like Medicaid spending for services in our own home or in nursing facilities.