Richardson's Compassionate Caregivers Act has Third Testimony in Senate Health

COLUMBUS – State Representative Tracy Richardson’s (R-Marysville) Compassionate Caregivers Act, House Bill 120, had a third hearing in the Ohio Senate Health Committee Wednesday. The legislation would require long-term care facilities to develop and implement a compassionate caregiver visitation policy. 

The committee heard and received proponent testimony from a number citizens as well as testimony from Vitas Health, Ohio Health Care Association, and Leading Age Ohio, who shared their emotional personal stories of their own struggles to see loved ones in long-term care facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“It was heartbreaking to hear the experiences of these individuals and families,” said Richardson. “Each one of them have personal stories to tell about their struggles with seeing loved ones that suffered in isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic and it was my privilege to be able to help them share their stories at the Statehouse today.”    

House Bill 120 outlines criteria for compassionate care visits, including six compassionate care conditions under Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services guidance. 

House Bill 120 awaits another hearing in Senate Health Committee. 

A subbill is expected, which will expand the scope of the bill beyond COVID-19 to include future epidemics, pandemics, and state of emergencies and will codify the legislation as law by removing all expiration dates from the bill.