Hey friends we need to keep pressure on Ohio Legislators around HB 795! There is not a current substitute bill so be sure you read that. It is in link above .

To keep this going we need people to help with some advocacy actions over the next week! Please share this post! Here’s some way you can get involved.

Next steps…

1) Keep Calling and Emailing Legislators

Protect Our Families!

A Sub-Bill was added to HB 795, known as the Safeguarding Healthcare Integrity through Electronic Location Data or SHIELD Act that would prohibit family members from being paid by Medicaid to offer personal care services to thousands of Ohioans with disabilities and senior citizens. This would affect not only the individuals on the Level 1, IO and SELF Waivers but also the Home Care Waiver, MyCare and Passport Waivers.

The full bill has not yet been voted out of the House Medicaid Committee, but this dangerous bill must be stopped before it moves forward. It is moving quickly so begin calling members of the committee immediately. Leave a voicemail if no one answers the phone.

Tell the person answering the phone who you are and that they must

• Remove the section of HB 795 which would prohibit families from being paid to support a loved one on all Medicaid waivers in Ohio.
• Remove harmful language requiring live in providers to use gps tracking and biometrics with electronic visit verification.
• No caps and cuts or prior authorizations for Medicaid waiver hours within managed care or other HCBS waivers

Start your call with the ones below who voted to add the prohibition of family members to the larger SHIELD Act.

Jennifer Gross, Chair 614-466-8550
Tim Barhorst, Vice Chair 614-466-1507
Meredith Craig 614-466-1474
Kelly Deeter 614-466-9628
Brian Lampton 614-644-6020
Diane Mullins 614-644-6721
Scott Oelslager 614-752-2438
Bill Roemer 614-644-5085
Jason Stephens 614-466-1366
Brian Steward 614-466-1464
Josh Williams 614-466-1418

Call and THANK these legislators who voted against the Sub Bill that would prevent family members from being paid:

Rachel Baker 614-644-6886
Derrick Hall 614-466-1177
Crystal Lett 614-644-6030
Anita Somani 614-466-5358
Bride Rose Sweeney 614-466-3350
Desiree Tims 614-466-1607

For more information on these legislators and the Ohio House Medicaid Committee

You can add your own story, but the message must be clear. HB 795 will harm Ohioans as currently written!

Consider expanding your reach to the full Ohio House!

https://www.ohiohouse.gov/members/directory

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2) Tell your story on social media and tag your state representative a senators.

Tell your story on social media and tag legislators in the post! Please use hashtags when telling your story or sharing about events happening this week.

Here’s a list of Facebook pages for Ohio legislators

*** Please make sure the first Letter of each word is capitalized in a hash tag to make it accessible and that you add alt text with image descriptions to images to make them accessible. ***

• #DefendMedicaidDefendLives
• #TargetFraudNotFamilies
• #NobodyIsDisposable
• #OurHomesNotNursingHomes
• #HCBS
• #OhioFamilyCaregiversMatter
• #Medicaid
• #DearOhioLegislators
• #ShowUsTheData
• #WhoWillProvideTheCare
• #HB795
• #DisabilityRights
• #WhoWillProvideCare

3) Attend Events Happening In Person & Online to Support People with Disabilities and Families In Solidarity around the Issue!

Schedule of Advocacy Events

Monday

House Medicaid Hearing at 3pm at Ohio Statehouse (In Person Testimony) People can also tune in live from Ohio Channel.

Beyond Data Live Stream HB 795 Discussion 8pm on Facebook and YouTube

Tuesday

House Medicaid Hearing 9am at Ohio Statehouse (In person testimony) People can also tune in live from Ohio Channel.

At 12pm Ohio Olmsted Taskforce will be having a protest on the West Lawn of Ohio Statehouse. There event link is on facebook you can find it through this link.

Ohio Advocacy Heartbeat will have zoom peer support from 7-9pm for anyone is in need of support (more information will be posted soon)

Wednesday

The Families Group organized by Andrea Forbes and Carrie Benton are doing a Rally from 10-2pm on sidewalks surrounding the Ohio Statehouse . The event can be found thru this link.

4) Sign the Petition on Change.org to Protect Ohio Families

Here is the link to the petition online .

5) Invite family , friends and others in the community to Support this cause!

We want to thank everyone who is standing up and uniting on this important cause .

Follow the Ohio Advocacy Heartbeat Facebook page for more updates !