700 Children’s Drive . Columbus, OH 43205 . 614/355-0701 . Fax:614/355-0710 . [email protected] October 31, 2007 Federal Update • SCHIP Although the House and Senate have agreed upon legislation reauthorizing the Reauthorization State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), the President vetoed the effort, which aimed to expand the program by $35 billion over the next five years Unsettled and cover an additional four million uninsured children. The Senate’s passage of the bill was veto-proof, however the House fell short of the 289 votes needed to override the veto. Ohio’s congressional delegation demonstrated bipartisan support for reauthorization, for which Children’s legislators, Representatives Hobson, Pryce and Tiberi and • Dr. Allen Senator Brown, were commended by Dr. Steve Allen, CEO, in a letter-to-the- Praises Ohio’s editor featured on October 7th in the Columbus Dispatch. While some Republicans Delegation and Democrats seem intent on negotiating to produce a bill that can gain enough support to override another presidential veto, others have used the SCHIP issue for political posturing and have made the environment surrounding the most recent SCHIP legislation unproductive. Three of Children’s service area legislators, and longtime champions of children’s hospitals, have announced their plans to retire from Congress. Congressman Dave Hobson (R), Congresswoman Deborah Pryce (R) and Congressman Ralph • Children’s Regula (R) will not seek another term in the U.S. House of Representatives. All Longtime will most certainly continue their ongoing advocacy for child health through the end Advocates to of their terms in December 2008. State Senator Steve Stivers (R-Columbus) has announced plans to run against Commissioner Mary Jo Kilroy in a bid to fill Retire Congresswoman Pryce’s seat. These retirements follow Ohio’s loss of Congressman Paul Gillmor (R), another leader for children’s hospitals, who died unexpectedly on September 5th. Funding for an autism research project in the amount of $1.5 million was included in the Department of Defense appropriations bill that recently became law, • More Funding thanks to Congresswoman Deborah Pryce (R), sponsor of the project, and for Autism Congressman Dave Hobson (R), a member of the appropriations committee. Under the leadership of Dr. Gail Herman, the project will be a partnership with the Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, and Dayton Children’s Hospital. For more information contact Morna Smith, Director of Federal Relations and Health Policy at 614-355-0701 or [email protected]. Oct./Nov. Special Edition: Page 2 State Update • Medicaid The Ohio Department of Job and Family services has indefinitely postponed the planned 3.3% reimbursement increase for hospitals, physicians and other Increase Halted for community providers, citing an unexpected one percent increase in Medicaid caseload. The increase, which was slated to take effect January 1, 2008, planned to Providers restore $15 million for dental care for low-income Ohioans and $50 million in Medicaid rate increases for health care providers. Adult dental benefits will also be denied. The administration agreed to delay the Medicaid recalibration rule until spring of 2008, allowing hospitals to retain a quarter of $13 million in payment reductions. Hospitals are already underpaid for Medicaid services at 95 cents per dollar. The halted increase, along with the planned recalibration would further challenge hospitals to serve the poor and uninsured. On the heels of the creation of an Autism Diagnosis and Education Pilot • Bill Says Program earlier this year, a bill has been introduced in the Ohio House seeking to Insurance prohibit health insurers from excluding coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of Cannot autism. Jacquie Wynn, PhD, Director of the Center for Autism Spectrum Exclude Disorders at Nationwide Children’s, testified before the House Insurance Autism Committee in support of coverage for what she describes as “tailored and effective Coverage interventions” for autism patients. “This syndrome requires extensive interventions and families require better means to access the care their children require,” Wynn explained in her testimony before legislators. Dr. Wynn was also quoted in a Columbus Dispatch news article covering the hearing. Service area legislators, Representative Jon Peterson (R-Delaware) and Senator Ted Celeste (D- Grandview Heights) sponsored the legislation. • Nutritional In an effort to encourage a healthier child population, a bill has been introduced in the Ohio House to help control what foods kids will have access to at school. This Standards for legislation would, among other things, establish nutritional standards for Schools certain foods and beverages sold in public and chartered nonpublic schools and require these schools to implement local wellness policies. Bob Murray, MD, Director of the Center for Healthy Weight and Nutrition at Children’s, testified on behalf of the bill. “Obesity has many causes and many connections with serious chronic diseases” Murray explained in his testimony. “It can only be fought by simultaneously addressing it in three key environments: home, school, and community. Anything less then a comprehensive approach will fail.” Jan Ritter, RD, Dietician for the Center for Health Weight and Nutrition, helped draft a portion of the bill’s language and also testified alongside Murray. 700 Children’s Drive . Columbus, OH 43205 . 614/355-0701 . Fax:614/355-0710 . [email protected] Oct./Nov. Special Edition: Page 3 State Update con’t. The legislature has passed what can be described as a key component to expanding Shaken Baby Syndrome education across the state. The Shaken • Expanding Baby Syndrome Bill, sponsored by Senator Steve Stivers (R-Columbus), was Shaken Baby passed by both the House and Senate and has been signed into law by the governor. Syndrome It requires the Director of Health to establish the Shaken Baby Syndrome Education Education Program, a state-wide program aimed at educating Ohioans of the issue. It also requires the Department of Job and Family Services to create a record- keeping system indicating whether child abuse cases included Shaken Baby Syndrome. For more information contact Daphne Kackloudis, Director of State Relations at 614-355-0701 or [email protected]. ’07 Election News Surviving a difficult primary battle, Representative Bob Latta (R-Bowling • Latta Wins Green) defeated state Senator Steve Buehrer (R-Delta) for the republican th Primary candidacy for Ohio’s 5 congressional district. Representative Latta will face democratic candidate Robin Weirauch in the special election to fill the vacant seat of the late U.S. Congressman Paul Gillmor. The election will be held on December 11th, 2007. • Democrats As predicted, Mayor Michael Coleman enjoyed a lopsided victory over Bill Todd in the race for Columbus mayor. Democrats also managed to hold their Hold Mayor, posts for Columbus City Council. Council President Mike Mentel, along with City Council Hearcel Craig, Andrew Ginther, Charleta Tavares and Priscilla Tyson all retained their seats. Grassroots • Thanks for Despite the unsuccessful attempt to override the President’s veto on SCHIP, our grassroots advocates were steadfast in appealing to their legislators for their support. Your Children’s generated over 300 letters to our members of Congress thanking Participation! them for their continued support of SCHIP. The Children’s The Children’s Action Network (CAN) is a volunteer grassroots network of Action Network advocates made up of friends, physicians, patients and employees who work to promote the health and safety of children by supporting public policy issues vital to the mission of Nationwide Children’s Hospital. To join CAN go to www.nationwidechildrens.org/childrensactionnetwork or contact Amanda Sima at 614-355-0701 or [email protected]. 700 Children’s Drive . Columbus, OH 43205 . 614/355-0701 . Fax:614/355-0710 . [email protected].