Since 2015, OPHA has adopted Health and Equity in All Policies (HEiAP) as an organizational value and formed a HEiAP Committee to address poor health outcomes and social inequities in Ohio. Progress toward introducing legislation for HEiAP in Senate Bill 302 ended with the close of the 132nd General Assembly, but OPHA is currently working to define its next steps. The progress of the HEiAP Committee over the last four years can be seen here in a summary.
Continue reading Health & Equity in All Policies a Focus of OPHA’s WorkCategory Archives: Policy
OPHA Release Immunization Position Statement
OPHA has released a position statement on immunization requirements for child care and school attendance. It states that childhood immunization is one of the greatest achievements of modern medicine and public health The statement concludes with these recommendations:
Continue reading OPHA Release Immunization Position StatementCall to Action on Gun Violence
Urgent Call to Action!
The Ohio Public Health Association expresses extreme sadness and joins in the national mourning of the senseless loss of life during the recent mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and in our own community of Dayton, Ohio. We offer our deepest sympathies to the victims and families and our sincere gratitude goes out to those first responders who displayed acts of remarkable selflessness and bravery.
Continue reading Call to Action on Gun ViolenceShare Your Thoughts on Medicaid
UHCAN Ohio is seeking comments regarding changes to Medicaid proposed by the Ohio Department of Medicaid. According to UHCAN, the Ohio Department of Medicaid is going to change the way that the health plans must cover Medicaid health care through new contracts with insurance companies to offer Medicaid managed care plans.
UHCAN Ohio must submit all comments to the Ohio Department of Medicaid by July 30, 2019. Use their survey to provide comments. Complete either the four minute version or the twelve minute version of the survey, you choose at the beginning of the survey.
President’s Message: Support HEiAP Legislation
I’m writing to raise awareness of the Ohio Public Health Association’s Health and Equity in All Policies Legislative Initiative.
Senate Bill 302 (Tavares), the Health and Equity in All Policies (HEiAP) Initiative, seeks to create a standardized, systematic review process for determining potential impact of proposed legislation on the health of Ohioans. The bill calls for a health and equity impact analysis at the early stages of policy development and is meant to inform Ohio lawmakers of any potential negative health and equity consequences.
The analysis would additionally help lawmakers identify those populations most susceptible to unfavorable health outcomes from any proposed legislation. Further, the review would allow legislators to consider how proposed bills would impact the population’s health through other health influences such as water and air quality, access to public transportation, social services, food security, education and good jobs.
We sincerely believe this legislation could be one of the most important public health policies to have been considered in Ohio in many years. And, if enacted, this legislation could be a significant factor in turning around both our poor health rankings and the inequities that exist among our fellow citizens. We will be reaching out to you for advocacy efforts on this initiative. In the meantime, for more information, please see the following link: https://ohiopha.org/about-opha/sections-and-subjects/heiap/ and please reach out to me if you would like to become more actively involved in this initiative.
Thanks for your continued efforts in public health!
Natalie DiPietro Mager
OPHA President
n-dipietro@onu.edu
Senator Tavares Introduces HEiAP Bill to Improve Health of Ohioans
State Senator Charleta B. Tavares (D-Columbus) recently introduced a bill, Senate Bill 302, to improve Ohio’s poor health indicators by requiring the State to determine how all new rules and regulations would impact the health of Ohioans.
“We know that the health of our citizens influences every aspect of our state – our economy, our productivity and our residents’ success,” said Senator Tavares. “Given that our state consistently ranks among the least healthy in the nation, we must take thoughtful and deliberative action to turn things around. This includes considering the impact every policy proposal has on the overall well-being of Ohioans and, especially, our most vulnerable communities.”
Like Ohio’s Common Sense Initiative, which looks at the impact of all laws and agency rules on business and the economy, SB 302 would require an analysis of all pending bills and agency rules to determine if they will have a positive, adverse or neutral impact on the health of Ohioans and on the attainment of health equity in the state.
The legislation, which is supported by the Ohio Public Health Association (OPHA), aims to demonstrate how even factors such as education, housing, neighborhood safety, transportation and employment can have wide-ranging health implications.
“This could be one of the most important public health policies to be considered in Ohio in many years,” said Joe Ebel, president of OPHA. “If passed, this bill would provide a tool which would allow our state lawmakers to consider the potential health implications of proposed legislation prior to the enactment of any new laws.”
SB 302 also creates an advisory board that would provide an annual report on the impact of the initiative and its effectiveness in improving the overall health of Ohioans and reducing costs. Bill text
Senate Hears Testimony on Dental Therapists Bill
Last week, many provided testimony at a hearing on Senate Bill 98. This bill would establish licensure for dental therapists and allow the expansion of dental services to children and low-income adults. OPHA was among those submitting written testimony in support. Continue reading Senate Hears Testimony on Dental Therapists Bill
APHA Opposes Repeal of Mandate
The American Public Health Association has issued a press release opposing the repeal of the individual mandate and proposals to cut the Prevention and Public Health Fund included in Congressional tax legislation. The full text of the release follows Continue reading APHA Opposes Repeal of Mandate
Issue 2: OPHA Does Not Support
OPHA has released a statement that it does not support Issue 2, the “Ohio Drug Price Relief Act.” The Act, among other things, would bar Ohio’s state government from paying more for prescription drugs than the lowest price paid by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Continue reading Issue 2: OPHA Does Not Support
How Healthy is Your Congressional District?
Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) has published a new report taking a unique view of health by looking at congressional districts. Continue reading How Healthy is Your Congressional District?