The Ohio Academy of Family Physicians (OAFP) advocacy team monitors healthcare related legislation, rule changes, and legislative updates for Ohio’s family physicians.
To access the OAFP Bill Tracker, visit the OAFP Public Policy webpage and click on the Bill Tracker icon.
Read on for this week’s updates and contact Advocacy Coordinator Kaela Springhetti with questions or for ways to get involved.
Speak Out: Defend Vaccine Science and Public Health
Source: The American Academy of Family Physicians
The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) is asking members to join its efforts in fighting for access to and public trust in vaccines.
In a deeply concerning move, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has dismissed all 17 members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the expert panel responsible for making science-based vaccine recommendations for the nation. Now, he has escalated his anti-science agenda by terminating $500 million in federal funding for 22 mRNA vaccine development projects.
These projects, managed by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), included promising work on vaccines for COVID-19, influenza, and RSV. Experts warn that this decision will severely undermine pandemic preparedness and stall progress on life-saving innovations.
Routine childhood vaccinations between 1994 and 2023 prevented approximately 508 million cases of illness, 32 million hospitalizations, and over 1.1 million deaths. These efforts saved the U.S. healthcare system an estimated $540 billion in direct medical costs and $2.7 trillion in broader societal costs. Vaccines save lives. That’s why the AAFP supports universal access to immunization regardless of socioeconomic or insurance status and opposes efforts by the administration to undermine access to and confidence in vaccines.
Please take two minutes to participate in this Speak Out. Together, we can ensure a stronger healthcare system for all.
Governor DeWine Announces Nearly $20M in Parenting, Pregnancy Grants
Source: Hannah News
Twenty-one nonprofit organizations across the state will receive nearly $20 million in grants through the Ohio Parenting and Pregnancy Program, Governor Mike DeWine announced recently.
The grants connect expectant parents and caregivers to education, support, and trusted local services, the governor’s office said in a news release.
“Ohio’s infant mortality rate is the lowest it’s been in two decades — 6.6 per 1,000 live births,” Gov. DeWine said. “That’s a sign that our investments in supporting families — before, during, and after pregnancy — are working. But we must keep going because every child deserves the opportunity to grow up healthy and strong.”
Through a competitive application process, the Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY) selected 21 grantees to deliver prenatal education, parenting classes, case management, referrals, and material assistance tailored to the needs of their local communities.
“We are continuing our investment in the health and future of Ohio’s families,” Lt. Governor Jim Tressel said. “These grants will support organizations that provide critical services to women and families during and after pregnancy, helping ensure every child has a strong start and every parent has access to the support they need.”
“This investment reflects our commitment to strong families and healthy communities,” DCY Director Kara Wente said. “By supporting parents early — often before their child is even born — we’re helping them build the skills, confidence, and stability they need to raise thriving children. And by working with community-based organizations across Ohio, we’re meeting families where they are with practical, meaningful support.”
Ohio Rural Hospitals Form Task Force to Advocate for Federal Dollars
Source: Health Policy Institute of Ohio
As states prepare to receive their share of the $50 billion in rural health funding included in the recently passed HR1 federal spending bill, independent rural hospitals in Ohio are banding together to advocate for how it is spent (Source: Rural, Independent Ohio Hospitals Band Together for Say in How Trump Bill’s Billions Spent, The Columbus Dispatch, August 5, 2025).
Ohio will likely get at least $500 million from the bill, but the funding provision, whose last-minute addition to the reconciliation bill was championed by Ohio Senators Bernie Moreno and John Husted, contains vague language. While it says that states must apply, it doesn’t define who the “state” is or give a clear definition of “rural” when describing the program’s scope, which means states and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services could define it as broadly as officials wish.
Rural hospitals tend to have higher percentages of Medicare and Medicaid patients than urban hospitals. Approximately 10 million people are expected to lose insurance coverage by 2034, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), under those Medicaid changes.
And while it’s more than rural hospitals had before the spending bill passed, reports from the CBO detail that the $50 billion over the next five years makes up only 37% of the revenue projected to be lost due to Medicaid changes from the same bill, according to a KFF Health News analysis.