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.
