Fedor, Kennedy Kent file healthcare freedom for all Ohioans legislation

State Representatives Teresa Fedor (D-Toledo) and Bernadine Kennedy Kent (D-Columbus) recently filed the Ohio Health Security Act, House Bill 440, which will establish a single-payer health care plan in Ohio. Medical, dental, mental health, and vision services will be covered under the act and payments to healthcare providers for all eligible services will be made from a single fund, the Ohio Health Care Fund.

“We need to be guided by the facts,” according to Fedor, “Sixty-two percent of bankruptcies in the US are linked to healthcare costs and seventy-eight percent of those families had health insurance.”

Under the plan, every Ohioan may receive full health care coverage, regardless of income or employment status, and may freely choose their own health care providers for services such as outpatient services to prescription drugs, medical supplies and medical transportation without costly co-payments or deductibles. There will also be no exclusions for pre-existing conditions.

According to Kennedy Kent, the two representatives are “putting together a concrete plan to make care affordable and flexible to work for you and your family.” The new plan will offer flexibility and affordability.

“Taxpayers deserve a plan that gives them a real choice and the freedom to pick a plan that works for them,” said Kennedy Kent.

The new health care plan will be administered by the Ohio Health Care Agency, which will operate under the direction of the Ohio Health Care Board. The board will consist of two elected representatives from seven regions across the state and the director of the Ohio Health Care Agency. The board will:

-          Negotiate or set prices for health care services provided.

-          Establish standards to demonstrate proof of residency.

-          Provide each participating individual with identification that can be used by providers to establish eligibility for services.

-          Seek all necessary waivers, exemptions, agreements, or legislation to allow various federal and state health care payments to be made to the Ohio Health Care Agency.

Versions of the bill have been introduced in the past but never before have received so much support, according to the lawmakers. The bill, which will be heard in committee in the coming weeks, has 18 cosponsors in addition to Reps. Fedor and Kennedy Kent. State Reps. Antonio, Boggs, Boyd, Cera, Galonski, Holmes, Howse, Ingram, Kelly, Leland, Lepore-Hagan, Miller, Patterson, Ramos, Reece, Sheehy, Sykes, and West have all signed on as co-sponsors to the bill.

The AFL-CIO, the American Public Health Association, the National Farmers Union, and Republicans for Single Payer in addition to dozens of other groups have also endorsed single-payer healthcare.

“Health is a human right,” Fedor said. “It is past time for Ohio to pass a law ensuring that people have access to affordable and sensible healthcare.”

Coverage from the Ohio Health Care Plan will be available two years after the passage of this legislation.