[Ohio-talk] Fw: ALERT:State Gov't Reorg Bill Introduced

Tue Feb 24 00:53:59 UTC 2009

Listen up and read this one very closely and stay alert!!

JW

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Sherry Ruth 
To: Barbara Pierce 
Cc: Dr. Smith 
Sent: Monday, February 23, 2009 12:21 PM
Subject: Fw: ALERT:State Gov't Reorg Bill Introduced

Thought you would want to read this yourself.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: patstanden at vgsjob.org 
To: babyruth2 at alltel.net 
Cc: dambrosi at blhs.org ; pstanden at blhs.org 
Sent: Friday, February 20, 2009 9:22 AM
Subject: FW: ALERT:State Gov't Reorg Bill Introduced

Patricia A. Standen
Facility Assistant - ext.4200

Vocational Guidance Services, 
359 Lowell St.    Elyria, OH 44035

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Cindy Carleton 
Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2009 11:53 AM
To: Mick Latkovich; Bob Comben
Cc: Placement
Subject: FW: ALERT:State Gov't Reorg Bill Introduced

FYI -- in case you had not seen

Subject: ALERT:State Gov't Reorg Bill Introduced

      TO: All OARF Members

      RE: SB 52 Government Reorganization --Impacting Voc Rehab, Medicaid, MRDD, Mental Health, Licensing Boards

      In the midst of one of the worst economic downturns in Ohio history, and one of the most difficult state biennial operating budgets  ($7 billion shortfall), the Senate yesterday introduced and today referred to committee SB 52 in an effort to streamline state government. The bill is sponsored by  Tim Grendell (R, Chesterland), a four-term House member and Senate freshman. 

      SB 52    GOVERNMENT REORGANIZATION (Grendell) To reorganize the executive branch of state government. 

      REFERRED TO COMMITTEE (2/18/2009) State & Local Government & Veterans Affairs 

      INTRODUCED (2/17/2009) 

      http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=128_SB_52

      BRIEF ANALYSIS

      The bill reorganizes the majority of departments in the executive branch of state government, and eliminates several existing cabinet agencies, including MRDD, Mental Health, and ODADAS. Numerous boards and commissions as currently structured are also reorganized, including the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission and medical and human services related licensing boards.

      VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION

      The bill would house all state and federally funded employment services in a new state department of "human resource development", and would establish a rehabilitation services division, thereby eliminating ORSC:

        RC. 121.045

        (B) A rehabilitation services division responsible for all of the following: 

        (1) Vocational rehabilitation programs; 

        (2) Job placement programs for the mentally retarded and developmentally disabled; 

        (3) Services for the visually impaired; 

        (4) Disabled employee training programs; 

        (5) Compliance and assistance programs under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act; and 

        (6) Other disability determination and assistance 

      The new Dept. of Public Health would among other changes take on the Medicaid program (currently administered by ODJFS), all Mental Health and MRDD services, all drug and alchohol services and numerous licensing boards, including the Medical Board, OT/PT/AT Board, Nursing Board, Speech Language Pathology, Audiology Board, and many others. The departments of MRDD and Mental Health would be eliminated.

      REORGANIZED DEPT OF PUBLIC HEALTH

      Sec. 121.042. The department of public health consists of the following divisions, with each headed by the chief of that division: 

      (A) A division of health and well-being responsible for all of the following: 

        (1) Family and community health services and programs; 

        (2) Disease prevention; 

        (3) State employee health services; 

        (4) Minority health affairs; 

        (5) Alcohol and drug addiction treatment and rehabilitation services; 

        (6) Addiction prevention and intervention services; 

        (7) State-operated hospital services; 

        (8) Mental health inpatient services; 

        (9) Health support services; and 

        (10) Health policy and accountability. 

        (B) A division of community care support services responsible for all of the following: 

        (1) Local mental health and mental retardation and developmental disabilities programs; 

        (2) Support for mental retardation and developmental disabilities developmental centers; and 

        (3) Elder community care, including PASSPORT. 

        (C) A division of medicaid services responsible for all of the following: 

        (1) Medicaid disbursements; 

        (2) Medicaid provider services; 

        (3) Medicaid revenue administration; 

        (4) Medicaid fraud, waste, and abuse prevention; and 

        (5) Federal-state matching. 

        (D) A division of medical professional and state healthcare system regulation responsible for certification, licensing, investigations, inspections, enforcement, adjudications, continuing education, training, and examinations relating to all of the following bodies or facilities: 

        (1) Ohio medical transportation board; 

        (2) Ohio board of dietetics; 

        (3) State medical board; 

        (4) Board of nursing; 

        (5) Ohio optical dispensers board; 

        (6) State board of optometry; 

        (7) State board of pharmacy; 

        (8) State board of psychology; 

        (9) Chemical dependency professionals board; 

        (10) Counselor, social worker, and marriage and family therapist counselors board; 

        (11) Ohio occupational therapy, physical therapy, and athletic trainers board; 

        (12) State board of orthotics, prosthetics, and pedorthics; 

        (13) State veterinary medical licensing board; 

        (14) State chiropractic board; 

        (15) State dental board; 

        (16) Board of speech-language pathology and audiology; 

        (17) Hearing aid dealers and fitters licensing board; 

        (18) Board of examiners of nursing home administrators; 

        (19) Ohio respiratory care board; and 

        (20) Public health facilities, addiction treatment facilities, and mental health facilities. 

      BILL INFORMATION 

      SB 52    GOVERNMENT REORGANIZATION (Grendell) To reorganize the executive branch of state government. 

      REFERRED TO COMMITTEE (2/18/2009) State & Local Government & Veterans Affairs 

      INTRODUCED (2/17/2009) 

      To read the bill: 

      http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=128_SB_52

      SPONSOR: Senator Tim Grendell (R, Chesterland, 18th District)

      Address: 
      Senate Building
      Room #042, Ground Floor
      Columbus, Ohio 43215
      Telephone: 614/644-7718
      Email: SD18 at senate.state.oh.us

      If you are aware of a non member facility that would benefit from this information, please share the above with them AND request that they join OARF. Attached is the membership form and PAC contribution form for you to distribute to them. 

      In order to continue to represent the interests of rehab facilities throughout the state OARF needs their financial support and pro-active interest in the signficant fiscal and policy changes being addressed by our Legislature.
      .

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.10.25/1958 - Release Date: 02/18/09 08:57:00

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com 
Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.11.1/1962 - Release Date: 02/20/09 07:26:00