The Ohio Academy of Family Physicians is your go-to source for family medicine advocacy! Read on for this week’s updates and contact Government Relations Director Jeremy Blake with questions or ways to get involved.
Ohio House Elects New Speaker
The Ohio House of Representatives recently elected Derek Merrin (R-Lucas County, OH) as its next Speaker. Rep. Merrin will assume that role in January 2023 when the 135th General Assembly takes office. Read more online.
Lame Duck Actions
Your Voice is Needed on HB 135
A number of patient focused organizations joined in unity to send a letter to Senate President Matt Huffman to urge support of House Bill 135, which would require insurers and pharmacy benefit managers to count all payments made on behalf of a beneficiary to their deductible and out-of-pocket maximums for prescription medications. Watch the Senate Health Committee hearing from November 16.
Proponent testimony has been scheduled for Wednesday, November 30, at 9 a.m. in the Senate Health Committee. If you are interested in this issue and would like to submit in-person or written testimony, please contact Jeremy as soon as possible.
Contacting Your Current State Legislators
The OAFP Encourages You to Directly Contact Your Current State Legislators During Lame Duck
The time period after Election Day until the General Assembly adjourns sine die is known as lame duck. This is a very busy time when legislation will move quickly as the current General Assembly finishes their work before the end of the year. Learn how to contact your current state representative and state senator by reading this tip sheet and watching this video.
OAFP Submitted Opposition Testimony to HB 454
Ohio Academy of Family Physicians (OAFP) Board Member Mark McLoney, MD, submitted written testimony to the Ohio House committee which recently held a hearing on House Bill 454 Banning Affirming Healthcare for Minors.
The hearing from November 16 was limited to two hours and can be viewed online along with all submitted testimony.
In The News – Lame Duck
Ohio Senate GOP to Clarify Women’s Health Exemptions on Six-Week Abortion Ban
Source: Ohio Capital Journal
Ohio Senate Republicans are working to clarify language on the six-week abortion ban, Senate President Matt Huffman told reporters on November 16. Read the full article in the Ohio Capital Journal.
LaRose Proposes Requirement for Citizen-Led Constitutional Amendments to Pass with 60% of the Vote
Source: The Statehouse News Bureau
Secretary of State Frank LaRose is leading an effort to change the rules for ballot issues that amend the state constitution by requiring those issues to receive 60% of the vote in order to pass. Read the full article in The Statehouse News Bureau.
Need to Know
AAFP November Federal Advocacy
Source: American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), Center for State Policy
Read the AAFP Federal Advocacy Team’s November update.
Weekly Ohio News Shows
The State of Ohio, PBS | November 18, 2022
The State of Ohio is a weekly program focused on state politics and government. Now that the election is over, all eyes turn to what current lawmakers are doing before they leave office at the end of the year. They take a look at what’s going on in the Lame Duck session. Ohio is even redder thanks to the November election so what will that mean for lawmakers and state leaders in the future? Watch The State of Ohio.
Face the State, WBNS 10TV | November 20, 2022
Face the State is a weekly program focused on politics and government. This week’s Face the State looks at a distracted driving bill that will help keep drivers accountable, and also explores the push to make swatting a felony. Watch Face the State.
The Spectrum, NBC 4 | November 20, 2022
The Spectrum is a weekly program focused on state politics and government. A slew of bills are up for consideration during the lame duck session at the Ohio Statehouse. See what lawmakers on both sides are hoping to pass before January. Watch The Spectrum.