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.
AAFP Speak Out Opportunities
Source: The American Academy of Family Physicians
- Support the Medicare Advantage Improvement Act of 2026
The Medicare Advantage Improvement Act of 2026 would strengthen oversight of Medicare Advantage plans, improve accountability, and help ensure beneficiaries receive timely access to medically necessary care. - Tell Congress to Ensure CMS Stays Within the Bounds of HR 1
Last year, Congress enacted the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR 1), which imposed significant changes to Medicaid, including new community engagement requirements, also known as work requirements, and substantial cuts to state-directed payments (SDPs). Speak out now and let your members of Congress know that family physicians and patients will suffer from improper statutory implementation that further strips away access to care.
House Drops Ban on Family Caregiving in Latest Draft of Medicaid Anti-Fraud Bill
Source: Hannah News
Less than a week after proposing to ban family caregiving under Medicaid waivers, the House Medicaid Committee reversed course in a new bill draft that also made numerous other changes to House Bill 795. Additional amendments could be coming June 9.
The committee drew plaudits and applause from witnesses and audience members in the hearing room after removing the family caregiving language, but also a fiery dressing down from one Northeast Ohio mother who excoriated lawmakers for even considering the idea in the first place.
Representative Tim Barhorst (R-Ft. Loramie, OH), vice chair of the committee, presided in the absence of Representative Jennifer Gross (R-West Chester, OH), who was excused from attendance for the day. The committee met for close to three hours.
Following a recent hearing, the committee updated its agenda for the June 9 hearing to note the possibility of further bill amendments.
After HB 795 sponsor Representative Josh Williams (R-Oregon, OH) summarized the contents of the substitute bill, Representative Scott Oelslager (R-North Canton, OH) asked him to reiterate the new version’s effects on family caregiving.
“The provision that previously prohibited family caregivers was removed entirely from the sub bill,” Rep. Williams said, triggering applause from the gallery. Nonetheless, witnesses had no shortage of suggestions for further changes to the bill.
“I really broke down in tears today when I got the thing that said, ‘OK, we’re going to pull out all the family caregiving [language],’” said Sue Gregg, who both serves as a family caregiver for her son-in-law and works as a provider for people with developmental disabilities.
Gregg expressed concern at lawmakers’ discussions about creating exemptions for developmental disabilities waivers.
Read the full article in Hannah News.
Ohio, Feds Announce Indictments in Medicaid Fraud
Source: Ohio Capital Journal
Federal law enforcement officials joined Ohio leaders to announce a slew of fraud busts. The national politicians praised Governor Mike DeWine for his work and dissed the GOP legislators who have been blaming him for allegations of Medicaid fraud.
At an event outside of Columbus, OH, the state’s leaders stood side by side with federal politicians to announce charges against people accused of defrauding the government of millions of dollars.
Todd Blanche, the acting U.S. attorney general, opened the event by talking about how the Trump Administration is waging war against fraud.
“Ohio is facing some of the most significant fraud schemes in the country,” Blanche said.
He, Medicaid Chief Dr. Mehmet Oz, and FBI Director Kash Patel explained a new effort to combat fraud of all kinds. They are starting a new federal-state system in order to share data. This new collaboration will help fight “fraudsters,” they said.
“The cases that we’re bringing represent a unified statewide fraud-fighting effort that’s firing on all cylinders,” Blanche continued.
The officials also announced several major indictments, with federal and state charges against nine defendants for allegedly defrauding the government of $42 million through Medicaid billing or COVID programs.
“In both cases, the defendants we allege were exploiting families, supposedly providing kids with particularly behavioral self behavioral services enrolled in community programs,” Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said.
Read the full article in The Ohio Capital Journal.