From the Statehouse 2006 No. 26
by Jennifer Garrison
Jan. 4, 2007
FROM THE STATEHOUSE 26
Happy New Year! The last weeks of the year found the Legislature dealing with topics such as: Mental Health Parity; expanding Ohio’s Best Rx program; aligning superintendents and treasurer’s contracts; an increase in Ohio coal severance tax for existing Unreclaimed Lands Fund. These bills all passed out of the House and Senate before Christmas and were sent to the Governor’s desk for signature.
Amended Substitute House Bill 443 increases the general severance tax on coal from 7 cents per ton to 10 cents a ton and establishes an additional 1.2 cents per ton for coal mined by surface mining to be credited to the existing Unreclaimed Lands Fund.
The U.S. Department of Interior’s office of Surface Mining notified Ohio that unless Ohio fixed its bond pool and spent more money on cleaning up abandoned mined lands the federal government would take over the program. This bill is a step in the right direction and sures up the bond fund. I voted “yes. The bill passed.
House Bill 403 allows a person registered as a physical therapist in another state or country to teach physical therapy for a one year period before in-state licensure. Today a physical therapist that a university requested teach from a text book they authored, would not be qualified because they are not licensed in Ohio. I voted ”yes”. The bill passed.
Senate Bill 116 requires health insuring corporations offering coverage for basic health care to offer on par coverage for biologically based mental illness. Under this bill, a biologically based mental illness includes: schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, major depressive disorder, bi-polar disorder, paranoia disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and panic disorder.
A health insurance company does not have to offer coverage for biologically based mental illness if it causes increases in premiums by more than 1% on basic health care services. Mental health parity legislation has been debated for many years in Ohio and it finally passed both the House and the Senate.
Proponents say the research shows, it does not increase costs. With schizophrenia the brain has too much dolophin and with Parkinson’s disease the brain has too little dolophin. Schizophrenia is not covered by insurance. Parkinson’s is covered by insurance. Thirty-six other states have already passed mental health parity legislation. I voted “yes”. The bill passed.
Substitute House Bill 468 increases Ohio’s Best Rx program’s eligibility from 250% of the poverty level to 300%. Ohio’s Best Rx program provides discount prescription drug coverage through negotiated reductions with pharmacies and drug manufacturers, not paid for by the state.
Under this bill, recipients of Worker’s Compensation and Medicare prescription plans are also eligible for Ohio’s Best Rx. The bill also eliminates the 4 month waiting period individuals discharged from employment due to a business reorganization, must wait to be eligible. I voted “yes”. The bill passed.
House Bill 671 changes the term of office for a school district treasurer and the month in which to renew the contracts to align it with a Superintendent’s contract. The bill also requires a school district to adopt procedures to evaluate a Treasurer when deciding to renew their contract. I voted “yes”. The bill passed.
You can reach Jennifer Garrison at her Columbus office at 614-644-8728 or in the district at 740-373-2414 or by e-mail at jennifer@jennifergarrison.com. Her website is Riffe Center | 77 South High Street | Columbus Ohio 43215-6111 | (800) 282-0253 | District93@ohr.state.oh.us
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