Advocacy
Need Help?
Nisha Hammel, MSW, LSW
Director of Advocacy
614-545-9026
- Oversees state & federal legislative efforts, payor & other stakeholder advocacy related issues
- Identifies and communicates member capacity to deliver quality
- Works with Communications Committee to advance quality message
- Staff liaison to Advocacy Committee
Policy Matters
Romanchuk Honored as Aging Services Advocate
On September 14, Ohio Representative Mark Romanchuk was honored with the Public Service Award from LeadingAge Ohio. The award was presented during a LeadingAge Ohio General Session as part of the LeadingAge Ohio 2017 Annual Conference and Trade Show. The award recognizes a public leader who has performed extraordinary service to older Ohioans by positively influencing the field of senior care and services.
Representative Romanchuk, who represents Ohio’s Second House District located in Richland County, has committed significant time and energy to advocating on behalf of older adults and the community organizations that serve them.
Representative Romanchuk has been a steadfast supporter of a statewide initiative focused on long term care financing and has demonstrated a clear recognition of workforce challenges that uniquely affect senior service providers. Additionally, as chair of the House Finance Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, he helped to mitigate cuts to Medicaid reimbursement for nursing homes proposed in this year’s budget process.
The Public Service Award is not granted annually, but rather only when an aging advocate distinguishes themselves in their advocacy for the needs of older Ohioans.
“I am humbled and honored to receive this award,” said Representative Romanchuk. “LeadingAge Ohio has been at the forefront of addressing the challenges facing the long-term care needs of our senior citizens and advocating for solutions for many years. It has been my privilege to join them in their critical work and I look forward to continuing to work with them in the future.”
“LeadingAge Ohio is grateful for Representative Romanchuk’s leadership and advocacy for older Ohioans,” said Kathryn Brod, President and CEO of LeadingAge Ohio. “We are at a critical turning point in Ohio’s aging demographic, and informed, committed public servants such as Mark Romanchuk are critical partners in ensuring we can meet the coming challenges.”
Ohio's Biennium Budget
Ohio's FY2018-2019 budget has been one for the record books LeadingAge Ohio has worked tirelessly through this budget season to ensure its members' voices are heard, and the vulnerable citizens in their care are maintained at the forefront of our legislators' minds. To review previous communications on the Ohio budget process, click the following links:
- Budget Season Begins: All Hands on Deck (2/1/2017)
- Ohio House Prioritizes Opioid Epidemic, Provider Cuts Remain (4/2/2017)
- Ohio House Bill Summary: Need to Know (5/9/2017)
- Senate Sub Bill Released: Funding Maintained for Nursing Facilities, HCBS (6/13/2017)
- Senate Budget Bill (HB49): What You Need To Know (6/22/2017)
- Budget Heads to Governor’s Desk: What You Need to Know (6/29/2017)
- Ohio House Overrides Governor’s Veto on Nursing Home Rates, MLTSS (7/6/2017)
- Budget Veto Overrides Pass House, Senate Cancels July Session dates (7/15/2017)
LeadingAge Ohio has been successful on multiple fronts, including preserving the $100 million for nursing homes included in the House version of the budget, and introducing an exclusion which eliminates barriers to antipsychotic use near end of life for nursing home-residing hospice patients.
If you have a question about the budget or about grassroots advocacy, contact Nisha Hammel, Director of Advocacy, at nhammel@leadingageohio.org.
Save HUD 202 Rally in DC
In late June 2017 hundreds of LeadingAge members, older adults, and partners participated in the “Save HUD 202 Rally” on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. At the rally, participants heard from members of the Senate and Congress, residents, and providers including Stephen Fleming LeadingAge Chair-elect of The Well-Spring Group who is quoted in this article from The Washington Times.
(Photos: Left: Stephen Fleming LeadingAge Chair-elect address crowd at Save HUD 202 Rally; Right: Nisha Hammel, LeadingAge Ohio Director of Advocacy and Ava Eisele, LeadingAge Ohio Intern show their support for HUD 202.)
