Stivers Defeated in Congressional Race

Senate Insurance, Commerce & Labor Committee Chair, Steve Stivers was narrowly defeated in his bid to be elected to the 15th Congressional District located in central Ohio.  Stivers was defeated by Franklin County Commissioner Mary Jo Kilroy by 2,311 votes.  Because the margin of victory was by more than ½% there will not be a recount. The final vote count was held up due to a lawsuit relating to provisional ballots that was decided last Friday by the Ohio Supreme Court.

Stivers has been an advocate for one of OAHU’s priorities, a high risk pool.  Stivers had to vacate his Senate seat to run for Congress, so it is uncertain what his future plans are.  Current State Representative Jim Hughes of Columbus was elected to replace Stivers in the Senate.

Democrat House Majority 53-46

As we have previously reported, the Democrats took over the Ohio House of Representatives but their ultimate majority was in question.  Now that Democrats have won two races that were too close to call, their majority in January will be 53-46, a pickup of 7 seats.  The two Democrat winners are Marion Harris in the 19th House District located in eastern Franklin County and Debbie Phillips of Athens in the 92nd House District.

Committee Hearings this Week

We are down to the last two weeks of this legislative session.  Any legislation that does not pass this year will die with a new two-year session beginning in January.  Two bills that OAHU has been monitoring are scheduled for a hearing this week.  They are:
(1) HB 493, which would prohibit a physician from billing for anatomic pathology services unless the services are personally rendered by a physician or rendered under the direct supervision of a physician, is scheduled for a possible vote in the Senate Health, Human Services & Aging Committee; and
(2) SB 99, which would require health insurers to provide benefits for equipment, supplies and medication for the diagnosis, treatment and management of diabetes and for diabetes self-management education, is scheduled to have its 5th hearing in the Senate Insurance, Commerce & Labor Committee.  While this bill has not passed either the Senate or House, there is a concern that it could be amended into another bill before the Legislature recesses.

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