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Public Policy -
Local
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State Budget for Fiscal Years 2008 and 2009
April 13, 2007
BIAOH
offered testimony to the Human Services Subcommittee of the
Ohio House Finance and Appropriations Committee
in
support of
RSC’s (Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission) budget.
BIAOH supports full funding for RSC, or an increase of about
$8.5 million, so that the full federal VR match can be
received by Ohio. This is essential for avoiding any
reduction in funding to Ohio's Brain Injury Program which
would weaken or reduce the already limited services
available for people with brain injury.
Testimony (word
document or
PDF
document)
Attachments (all PDF
documents):
Ohio Revised Code addressing Brain Injury
BIAOH CSN Map
BIAOH's Ohio Plan
Ohio Legal Rights Service's Needs Assessment summary
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Ohio Medicaid Buy-In Becomes Law!
After years of hard
work and persistence, Ohio’s advocacy community can celebrate
passage of Medicaid Buy-In legislation since SB 4 language was
folded into the State Budget Bill and signed into law on June 30,
2007. Ohio is the 35th state to adopt Medicaid Buy-In provisions.
Medicaid Buy-In is designed to benefit workers with disabilities by
expanding eligibility for Medicaid health care coverage, provided
these individuals don’t exceed certain income, asset or resource
limits, and pay a monthly premium for the coverage.
While the broad parameters of Ohio’s Medicaid Buy-In are included in
SB 4 language incorporated into the Budget Bill, work remains.
According to staff of the Cerebral Palsy Association of Ohio (CPAO),
who worked diligently for its passage, here’s what we can expect
between now and January 2008:
“The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, in collaboration
with the Medicaid Buy-In Advisory Council, will write the rules to
implement the program and will seek approval from CMS. (CMS is the
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services at the U.S. Dept. of Health
and Human Services.) Additionally, a series of regional meetings
will be planned to spread the word about this new program.”
BIAOH, along with more than a dozen other advocacy agencies and
organizations, has a seat on Ohio’s Medicaid Buy-In Advisory
Council.
Thanks is due all around to both advocates and responsive public
officials who pushed this landmark legislation into law, including
Ohio General Assembly sponsors, Senator Steve Stivers, and Rep. Jon
Peterson, as well as Gov. Ted Strickland who made it a priority
among his “Turn Around Ohio” initiatives.
CPAO’s Executive Director, Beverly Johnson, will provide an update
on Ohio’s Medicaid Buy-In at BIAOH’s Annual Conference.
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Shaken Baby Syndrome Education Bill
S.B.144,
Shaken Baby Syndrome Education Program, Passes Senate, Moves to
House Passing the Ohio Senate on May 30, 2007. Amended
Senate Bill 144 has been assigned to the Health Committee in the
Ohio House chaired by Rep. John White of the 38th District within
Montgomery Co. The bill defines “shaken baby syndrome as damage to
the brain of an infant or young child, including, but not limited
to, swelling that impedes the supply of oxygen to the brain or any
degree of brain damage that results from the infant or young child
having been forcefully shaken.”
Sponsored by State Senator Steve Stivers, the law requires development and
dissemination of educational materials through assistance from a
work group. Work group members are designated as organizations with
expertise in child abuse, infant care and calming techniques, child
development, and parenting skills including those associated with
maternity units and child care facilities |
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Links for Ohio Legislators |
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