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Rep. White Participates in Ohio Chamber of Commerce's 2026 Healthcare Transformation Summit

Advocates for Policy Changes, Funding to Support Prevention, Education, Early Identification, Treatment, and Caregiver Support for Alzheimer's/Other Forms of Dementia
September 9, 2026
Republican Newsroom

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COLUMBUS – State Representative Andrea White (R-Kettering) today participated in a panel to discuss Ohio’s memory care, caregiver support and policy priorities related to serving individuals and families impacted by Alzheimer’s and other forms of Dementia during the 2026 Healthcare Transformation Summit hosted by the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.  

Rep. White advocated for policy changes and resources to support prevention, education, early identification, treatment, and caregiver support for individuals with Alzheimer’s, Dementia and cognitive impairment. The Summit brought healthcare leaders, advocates, patients and policymakers together to collaborate and discuss policy updates, emerging technologies, and key issues impacting the healthcare sector, including artificial intelligence and rural healthcare access.

“Ohio’s aging population continues accelerated growth with experts predicting many children being born today will live to 100 and beyond,” Rep. White said.  “The time is now for us to educate both children and adults what they can do to help prevent or reduce their risks of suffering memory issues, to more substantially train our health care providers and care givers in prevention and early recognition, and to eliminate the stigma that prevents aging adults from seeking early treatment where today’s medications and therapies are most effective.  Additionally, we need to continue to strengthen our caregiver infrastructure, both in terms of how we support families and other caregivers, as well as continuing to build out and educate our home health and long-term care workforce.”

Along with Rep. White, the panel also included:

  • Jennifer Carlson, State Director, AARP Ohio Legislature 
  • Pat Krebs, Board Member, Alzheimer’s Association Early Stage Advisory Group, Central Ohio Chapter
  • Dr. Doug Scharre, Medical Director, Center for Cognitive and Memory Disorders, The Ohio State University
  • Moderator Bonnie Burman, Past President, Ohio Council for Cognitive Health

Rep. White has championed multiple pieces of legislation during this General Assembly aimed at protecting and supporting Ohio’s aging population, some of which she highlighted during the panel discussion along with additional legislation from other members. Bills that Rep. White has introduced that support Ohio’s Aging population include:

House Bill 750, which passed out of the House Health Committee with overwhelming support, will expand Ohio’s Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), providing Ohio seniors more options to age in place in the comfort of their homes. 

“I strongly believe that these expansions will ultimately benefit both the physical and mental health of our elderly citizens and their caregivers,” said Rep. White. 

House Bill 945 will help ensure the hospice care that is delivered in this state is of the highest quality, has the greatest transparency, and accountability. Ohio is currently on the federal watch list because the state’s hospice programs have grown in number so rapidly. 

“HB 945 will ensure that when an individual or family looks for hospice services, they can count on the quality and integrity of care that they are receiving,” said Rep. White. 

House Bill 8, which would require biomarker testing to be covered by insurance companies and Medicaid, would expand access to treatment for individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s where a biomarker has recently been identified.

House Bill 560, the Protect Our Parents Act, aims to protect older Ohioans and vulnerable adults from financial exploitation by providing clarity for financial institutions and strengthening coordination between private institutions and public agencies in cases where there is suspected fraud occurring. 

“We know every day in Ohio, individuals are being preyed on through deliberate attempts to deceive and defraud, particularly our older and vulnerable adults,” said Rep. White. “H.B. 560 protects Ohioans with and without memory issues by providing our financial institutions with important tools to help stop theft in its tracks.”

For more information on legislation sponsored by Rep. White, click here.