Rep. Troy's Legislation Designating May Older Ohioans Month Signed into Law
COLUMBUS – State Representative Daniel Troy (D-Willowick) today was pleased to see his House Bill (HB) 173 designating May as Older Ohioans Month ceremonially signed into law Wednesday by Governor DeWine. Both the original and amended version of HB 173 unanimously passed the Ohio House of Representatives and Ohio Senate.
“Thank you to Governor DeWine and my colleagues for the favorable passage of my legislation. I brought this legislation forward to encourage and recognize the countless contributions that older adults make in our state. Seniors have provided a lifetime of work, service, and countless contributions to our state and communities. As a society, we have a responsibility that our older citizens age with respect, dignity, and financial security,” said Rep. Troy.
The first proclamation recognizing Older Americans was issued by President John F. Kennedy 61 years ago. President Kennedy and members of the National Council of Senior Citizens met to address the growing concerns of America’s 17 million individuals ages 65 and older. To honor and raise awareness for the problems affecting senior citizens, President Kennedy and the Council proclaimed May as “Senior Citizens Month” in 1963, but it became known as “Older Americans Month” in 1965.
“At that time, a third of seniors lived in poverty, and almost half were without health insurance. Since that first proclamation, legislators and leaders passed Medicare, strengthened Social Security, and important medical advancements were made to improve the lives of seniors. But as we know, there is more work to do,” said Rep. Troy.
Rep. Troy also sits on the Ohio Elder Abuse Commission. He previously introduced legislation that increased penalties for failure to report elder abuse, and it passed thanks to his colleagues in the 134th General Assembly.
According to a University of Miami study, more than 1 in 4 Ohioans will be over the age of 60 by the year 2030. Almost every Ohio county is expected to see an increase in the share of population over the age of 65. Baby boomers make up the largest generation of older adults in US history.
Rep. Troy agreed to include amendments to HB 173. The amendments require hospitals to publish certain price information and to designate the week of March 16th as "Ohio Black Media Week." Each hospital will be required to maintain and make public a list of all standard charges for all hospital items or services. It also requires the hospital to maintain and make public a consumer-friendly list of standard charges for at least 300 of the hospital’s shoppable services.
Additionally, it requires the list of standard charges for shoppable services to include the 70 services specified as shoppable services by the United States Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or as many of those services as the hospital provides. The legislation permits hospitals to fulfill the requirement for a list of standard charges for shoppable services by providing a qualifying internet-based price estimator tool. The bill prohibits hospitals from selling the personal data of a person in this state acquired from an internet-based price estimator tool.
Finally, it prohibits hospitals from using, selling, or processing the personal data of a person in this state acquired from an internet-based price estimator tool for the purposes of targeted advertising.
“These amendments will prohibit hospital administrators from hiding or masking standard prices of items or services. The anxiety of not knowing all the items of a hospital bill only adds to the stress of healthcare. I am proud that my bill was able to serve as the legislative vehicle for this measure,” said Rep. Troy.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Attached are photos of Rep. Troy with Governor DeWine ceremonially signing House Bill 173 into law. Courtesy: Ohio House Democrats