Advocacy
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Susan Wallace, MSW, LSW
Director of Government Relations and Public Affairs
614-545-9024
- Primary contact for policy priority development, advocacy and legislative affairs
- Liaison to Advocacy Committee, Home Health, Hospice & HCBS Subcommittee
- Responsible for newsletter content generation and compilation
Policy Matters
LeadingAge Ohio President/CEO Kathryn Brod Testifies in House Finance Subcommittee on Health and Human Services
April 8, 2019
(COLUMBUS, Ohio) - Today LeadingAge Ohio President/CEO Kathryn Brod testified in the Ohio House Finance Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, discussing the amazing work our members do every day, outlining our challenges in the aging industry and advocating for our Ohio state operating budget priorities. Brod was one of several interested parties testifying from the aging community in preparation for state operating budget deliberations in the Ohio House.
LeadingAge Ohio's Kathryn Brod giving testimony on the state operating budget
Brod discussed our plan to strengthen and redesign the Assisted Living Waiver program, a plan that was also backed and discussed by the Ohio Health Care Association at the hearing. She also discussed how the state can help facilitate workforce improvements in long-term care through preserving the nursing facility market basket increases and through increased funding to PASSPORT. Finally, Brod outlined the challenges our members and older adults around Ohio face when dealing with Medicaid eligibility.
LeadingAge Ohio had previously met with members of the committee, and we hope with this testimony and our continued efforts, we can see these amendment proposals included in the final version of the bill submitted to the Ohio House for a vote the the coming weeks.
Catch up on Kathryn Brod's testimony here if you missed it!
(Beginning at 4:58:25) HHS Subcommittee 4/8/19
LeadingAge Ohio Wraps Up Week Full of Legislative Visits in Anticipation of House Budget Bill
April 5, 2019
(COLUMBUS, Ohio) - LeadingAge Ohio and the LeadingAge Ohio Advocacy Committee today wrapped up a week full of legislative visits, both in our member communities and at the Ohio Statehouse, where we met with members of the Ohio General Assembly and their staff to discuss our state budget priorities. These visits are in anticipation of House Bill 166, the Ohio state operating budget bill which is currently in it's final stages in the Ohio House Finance Committee, being amended and offered up for a vote.
Budget priorities discussed with members at the LeadingAge Ohio Advocacy Committee meeting and with state representatives and senators of the Ohio General Assembly included:
- Redesigning and strengthening Ohio's Assisted Living Waiver
- Preserving the nursing facility market basket increases removed in the Executive Budget proposal
- Increasing funding for Personal Care Services and Enhanced Community Living under PASSPORT
- Streamlining Medicaid eligibility
Green Hills Community Staff & Rep. Cross Jennings Staff & Rep. Greenspan
Brethen Retirement Community Staff & Rep. Powell
A variety of meetings took place around the state, including:
- Rep. Jon Cross (R-Kenton) visiting Green Hills Community in West Liberty
- Rep. Brigid Kelly (D-Cincinnati) meeting at the Statehouse
- Rep. Steve Arndt (R-Port Clinton) meeting at the Statehouse
- Rep. Dave Greenspan (R-Westlake) meeting at the Statehouse
- Rep. Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) meeting at the Statehouse
- Office of Sen. Rob McColley (D-Napoleon) meeting at the Statehouse
- Office of Sen. Matt Huffman (R-Lima) meeting at the Statehouse
- Rep. Bill Roemer (R-Richfield) meeting at the Statehouse
- Rep. Jena Powell (R-Arcanum) visiting Brethen Retirement Community
As we move forward in the budget process, we will continue to stay vigilant in working with our elected officials to enact positive changes for our members and for older Ohioans.
State Senators Steve Wilson and Kenny Yuko Introduce Bill to Establish an Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Task Force
March 28, 2019
(COLUMBUS, Ohio) - State Senator Steve Wilson (R-and State Senator Kenny Yuko (D-recently introduced bipartisan legislation to establish an Alzheimer's diseases and related dementias task force. Senate Bill 24 is currently pending in the Ohio Senate, but LeadingAge Ohio hopes to see quick passage of this critical bill.
Senator Wilson & Senator Yuko giving testimony on the bill
The two senators held a press conference on February 13th and testified in the Senate Health, Human Services and Medicaid Committee on March 20th in an effort to move the bill.
"Ohio's population is getting older and we are not ready to support the growing number of people with Alzheimer's, their caregivers and their families," said Senator Yuko. "We have to act now to develop a plan of action for our communities and public support systems."
"Remarkably, Ohio is the only state in the nation that has not established a process for creating an official comprehensive plan to confront this growing public health crisis," said Senator Wilson. "I find that embarrassing and unacceptable."
With over 5 million Americans living with Alzheimers and an estimated cost of care of $277 billion in 2018, and as many as 16 million expected to suffer from the disease by 2050, the time is now to establish a plan (alz.org).
Good Shepherd Home Spearheading New Dementia Certification Program
March 27, 2019
(FOSTORIA, Ohio) - LeadingAge Ohio today visited Good Shepherd Home in Fostoria to observe their Elder Certification Program, which is offered in conjunction with Vanguard-Sentinel Career and Technology Center. This program is offered to all students at Vanguard-Sentinel.
Good Shepherd Home is currently hosting seven students from various Northwest Ohio high schools who spend part of each school day at Vanguard-Sentinel in their Health Career Academy. While at Good Shepherd Home, the students receive instruction from Registered Nurses and other staff with hands-on exercises, classroom work and by spending time with the residents. All of the current students in the program are State-Tested Nurse's Aides.
Good Shepherd Home's Chris Widman speaking to students in the program
The program consists of two weeks of sessions at Good Shepherd Home, after which they leave with a certificate that can help them when they go seeking employment or further education after graduation. The program is mutually beneficial, giving the students' resumes a boost when pursuing careers in healthcare and helping to train the next generation of long-term care staff for nursing facilities.
LeadingAge Ohio is planning to publicize this program and others to representatives from the state legislature, schools in Northwest Ohio and the media at our May 7th panel in Fostoria at Good Shepherd Home titled "The Power of Partnerships: Mobilizing the Next Generation for a Strong Workforce". To RSVP, please contact Patrick Schwartz at PSchwartz@leadingageohio.org.
LeadingAge Ohio Advocates on Capitol Hill for Workforce and Housing Improvements
March 20, 2019
(WASHINGTON, D.C) - Today, LeadingAge Ohio members, staff and student volunteers met with the Ohio Congressional Delegation on Capitol Hill to discuss legislative priorities critical to our membership. This was the culmination of the LeadingAge Leadership Summit held in Washington, D.C. from March 17-20.
Legislative priorities discussed with legislators and staff included:
- Boosting affordable housing options for older adults
- Supporting the Geriatrics Workforce Improvement Act (S.299)
- Consponsoring and supporting the Nursing Home Workforce Quality Act (H.R. 1265)
- Meeting workforce demands by establishing a Temporary Foreign Worker Program
LeadingAge Ohio paired up with leaders from our member communities and social work interns from Age Friendly Ohio to relate personal experiences related to the workforce and housing crisis currently affecting older adults and providers here in Ohio.
Legislator offices that we met with included:
- Congressman Warren Davidson (R-Troy)
- Congressman Anthony Gonzalez (R-Rocky River)
- Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-Toledo)
- Congressman Jim Jordan (R-Lima)
- Congressman Steve Stivers (R-Columbus)
- Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (D-Columbus)
- Senator Rob Portman
- Senator Sherrod Brown
Our goal is to have these legislative priorities supported by our elected officials and to put words into action to make improvements for older Ohioans.
Directors Sears, Laubert, Governor's Office Take "Technology Tour" of Maple Knoll Communities
On Friday, June 22, Maple Knoll Village hosted staff of the Ohio Department of Aging, the Ohio Department of Medicaid and the Governor’s office on a tour of its campus highlighting its culture of innovation as well as its partnership with the University of Cincinnati. In attendance were Beverly Laubert, Director of the Ohio Department of Aging, Barbara Sears, Director of the Ohio Department of Medicaid, and Kelly Reidenbach, Assistant Policy Director for the Governor’s office, as well as other leadership from the Administration, LeadingAge Ohio and Maple Knoll Communities.
Highlights of the tour included:
- Learning about Maple Knoll’s award-winning Structured Interdisciplinary Bedside Rounds (SIBR) program, which has dramatically decreased hospitalizations, with zero turnover in rounding positions;
- A tour of its prototype “smart house” in which Directors Sears and Laubert had the opportunity to meet with the UC College of Nursing’s researchers, as well as UC engineering students and even operate a care robot;
- Plans for a new “Servus Hub,” a partnership between Maple Knoll Communities and RoundTower, which will be a testing ground for Maple Knoll residents to shape new products and innovations being brought to market.
“We are grateful to have had the opportunity to host a visit for those agencies that can have a direct impact on the way we care for seniors in the state of Ohio,” said Tim McGowan, Executive Vice President of Operations at Maple Knoll Communities. “I am hopeful that Friday’s visit will open the doors necessary for some collaborations with the Department of Medicaid, the Ohio Department of Aging, the Governor’s office, and the UC Colleges of Nursing and Engineering. Working together, I am confident that we can conduct research that will advance the quality of life for seniors in all settings!”
LeadingAge Ohio delights in opportunities to showcase our members’ leadership within their communities and contributions to the field of aging services. If you have an innovative practice, approach or model that warrants sharing, contact Susan Wallace at swallace@leadingageohio.org.
Senator Dolan Visits Eliza Jennings
June 13, 2018-- Last week, Senator Matt Dolan of Chagrin Falls joined the leadership team at Eliza Jennings for a conversation and tour of their Renaissance Retirement Campus. Rich Boyson, President/CEO of Eliza Jennings, led a conversation which touched on workforce challenges faced by long-term care providers, while Susan Wallace, Director of Public Affairs at LeadingAge Ohio addressed challenges and opportunities for continuum-based providers in managed care environments. Also joining the conversation were Sandy Skerda, Executive Director, Kimberly Eiting, Administrator and Diane Banning, Independent Living Sales Manager.
“Senator Dolan has a deep understanding of staffing issues, including the importance of attracting and retaining exceptional, dedicated people,” said Eliza Jennings President and CEO Rich Boyson. “He is genuinely interested in listening to our concerns and discussing workable solutions.”
LeadingAge Ohio encourages members interested in hosting their legislators over the summer recess to reach out to Susan Wallace at swallace@leadingageohio.org.
Smith Sworn in as Speaker
June 12, 2018-- Last week, the Ohio House of Representatives elected Representative Ryan Smith (R-Gallipolis) as the 103rd Speaker to fulfill the unexpired term of former Speaker Cliff Rosenberger (R-Clarksville), who resigned last month due to an FBI investigation. The House cancelled previous sessions to elect a replacement Speaker over the past few weeks due to a lack of 50 republican votes for any one candidate. Under House rules, if a candidate for Speaker does not receive a majority of votes (with only 91 members present a candidate needed 46 votes), then the candidate with the plurality of votes after the 10th ballot is elected Speaker. On the 11th ballot Representative Ryan Smith received 44 votes, Representative Fred Strahorn (D-Dayton) received 27, Representative Andy Thompson (R-Marietta) received 13 and Representative Jim Hughes (R-Columbus) received 7 votes. Representative Smith was immediately sworn in by Justice Fischer in the House Chamber with his family present.
Since the House has continued to hold Committee hearings during this interim period, there are over 140 bills waiting to be voted on by the Ohio House. Speaker Ryan announced yesterday the House would cancel its “if needed” Session dates for next week, but would be having Session on June 20 and 27 to continue the work of the Ohio House. Moreover, he stated that there would not be any changes to the current majority leadership team or Committee structure.
With the upcoming general election and end of the current 132nd General Assembly on December 31st, the Ohio House will have to vote on a Speaker for the next General Assembly. Current Speaker Ryan Smith is running against former Speaker Larry Householder (R- Perry), who previously served as Speaker from 2001-2004. Representative Householder returned to the Ohio House as a freshman this current GA, and has 3 more terms (6 years) to serve, while Representative Smith has one more term (2 years) to serve in the House. Due to term limits there are approximately 20 open seats in the current majority caucus, so the outcome of those races could have an impact on the selection of the next Speaker.
