Advocates across the state have warned that this provision would legalize discrimination against LGBTQ patients, minorities, marginalized groups such as those with substance use disorders or a sexually transmitted disease and could prevent women from accessing birth control and other family planning and reproductive health care services.

AOF has compiled a run-down of the major health and human services provisions in the final version of the state operating budget.

On behalf of our more than 500 member organizations in the field of health and human services, Advocates for Ohio’s Future would like to thank the Ohio General Assembly for recognizing the importance of providing for the safety, health, and well-being of all those they represent.

This week, 93 organizations, health care providers, and concerned constituents from across the state united with Advocates for Ohio’s Future in releasing a letter calling on Ohio legislators to remove a last-minute budget amendment that would terminate the Medicaid managed care procurement process and derail crucial efforts to refocus, improve, and personalize the delivery of Medicaid services to Ohioans.

As the budget conference committee continues its hearings on the state’s biennial budget bill, advocates are sounding the alarm over the need to restore both funding for high-speed broadband expansion in Ohio and the authority for municipalities to provide broadband services to their residents.

The one-time Child Tax Credit expansion for the 2021 tax year will give eligible parents $300 per month for each child under age 6, and $250 for each child ages 6 to 17, including children who turn age 17 in 2021.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) allowed the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to expand the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, through Emergency Allotments (EA). EAs ensure each SNAP household receives the maximum benefit amount for their household size.

Last week, the Federal Communications Commission announced that the Emergency Broadband Benefit application will go live on May 12, 2021. The Emergency Broadband Benefit is an FCC program that will help families and households who struggle to afford internet service.

Last week, the Health Policy Institute of Ohio released their 2021 Health Value Dashboard, which showed that Ohio now ranks 47th out of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. on health value, down from 46th in 2020. The report attributes Ohio’s poor rank to lack of attention and action in treating childhood adversity and trauma, inequities and systemic disadvantages, and a lack of investment in public health infrastructure leading to missed opportunities for prevention.

After the House Finance Committee released Substitute House Bill 110 on Tuesday, which includes the first round of amendments to the Operating Budget for FY2022-2023, Advocates for Ohio’s Future submitted written testimony to the House Finance Committee applauding several proposals, while cautioning that more can be done to support Ohioans.

Last week, the Ohio Department of Medicaid announced the six health care companies that were selected as part of an overhaul of Ohio’s $20 billion managed care system, in the culmination of a procurement process that has lasted more than two years and has been touted as the largest contract in Ohio state history.

A new report shows that despite public perception of fraud in many safety net programs, there is no evidence of widespread fraud in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), either in Ohio or nationwide.

Susan Jagers, Director of the Ohio Poverty Law Center, testified as a proponent of H.B. 55 on behalf of Advocates for Ohio’s Future, in front of the Ohio House Government Oversight Committee today. H.B. 55, sponsored by Representative Brigid Kelly (D-Cincinnati), would allow the General Assembly to conduct session and committee hearings, including accepting virtual witness testimony, during a period of emergency declared by the Governor.

AOF is releasing our 2021 Ohio Poverty Snapshot resource card, showing that having a job doesn’t always mean earning a livable wage or being able to make ends meet.

This week marked the last opportunity for stakeholders to submit testimony to the House Finance Subcommittees focusing on different sections of House Bill 110, the FY2022-2023 State Operating Budget.

Advocates for Ohio’s Future is asking organizations across the state join the fight against the harmful provisions of Senate Bill 17 by signing on to the letter below. The letter will be delivered to all members of the Senate Government Oversight & Reform Committee and Senate Majority Leadership.

Senate Bill 17 was introduced in January 2021 by Senator Tim Schaffer (R-Lancaster). SB 17 makes changes in eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Medicaid, work and education requirements for certain Medicaid recipients, requirements for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program electronic benefit transfer cards, and eligibility for and overpayments of unemployment compensation.

Our partners at the Ohio Poverty Law Center released their most recent report, A Brighter Future for Ohio’s Medicaid Managed Care Program, which examines provisions of the new Medicaid Managed Care contract that should improve legal aid clients’ ability to access services.

Governor Mike DeWine sent a letter to then President-elect Biden on January 18 asking for additional funding and resources to help Ohio fight the coronavirus pandemic.

Although the federal 2014 Farm Bill authorized a pilot Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) online food purchasing program by early 2020 only a handful of states and retailers were onboarded.