Richardson's Compassionate Caregivers Act Passes Through General Assembly

COLUMBUS – The Ohio House and Senate have concurred on the Compassionate Caregivers Act, Substitute House Bill 120, on Wednesday after the subbill was unanimously passed out of the Senate. 

Substitute House Bill 120, sponsored by State Representative Tracy Richardson’s (R-Marysville), outlines criteria for compassionate care visitations in long-term care facilities under CMS guidance during any future epidemic, pandemic, and state of emergency.   

“This bill seeks to ensure necessary compassionate care access for our seniors, so that the isolation experienced during COVID-19 will never happen again,” said Richardson. “This access will provide meaningful human interaction critical to sustaining life, happiness, and dignity for our seniors and loved ones.”  

The legislation was recently amended in Senate Health Committee to expand beyond COVID-19 to include any future epidemic, pandemic, or state of emergency and will codify the legislation as law by removing all expiration dates from the bill.  Additionally, the substitutions will allow visitation at any time as long as compassionate caregivers adhere to long-term care facility guidelines. 

Richardson is a joint sponsor for the Compassionate Caregivers Act with State Representative Mark Fraizer (R-Newark).

Substitute House Bill 120 will now head to the governor’s office to be signed into law.