×

Official tells health board of possible reprieve for Handicaps program

LISBON — Those concerned about the Children with Medical Handicaps program being moved from the Ohio Department of Health to the Ohio Medicaid program may get a reprieve.

Jennifer Davis, director of nursing for the county health department, told the health board Wednesday she and the nurse for the program, Kayla Kemats, recently went down to Columbus to listen to testimony before the finance subcommittee which was looking at the state budget, House Bill 49, being proposed. That initial budget had looked at moving the program, also known as the Bureau of Children with Medical Handicaps.

The move was reportedly going to financially help the program, which reportedly has an $11 million unfunded liability.

However, the 211 families in the area and others were concerned about how the changes were going to affect the program and personal assistance they currently receive from it, in some cases even after Medicaid declines to pay.

Davis told the board that after the subcommittee heard lots of testimony about the program, she learned the subcommittee plans to submit an amendment to the budget, removing the part about changing the program. While it is “not set in stone” that the program will never be changed, Davis said this is the “first win of the battle.”

Davis said she wants to thank the parents in the county who put together a forum so people could discuss the proposed changes, and the parents who traveled to Columbus to testify.

In other matters before the board:

— Environmental director Lori Barnes pointed out there was recently a rabid raccoon confirmed in Stark County and there will be some trapping being done on private property starting in that area and possibly moving toward Columbiana County. The raccoon was reportedly found outside the baiting zone. The next opportunity to vaccinate your pet in Columbiana County will be from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, April 8 at the county Career and Technical Center. The cost will be $5. Vaccinations will be done through the Lisbon Veterinary Clinic and the health department. Dogs must be on a leash and cats need to be confined or in a cage.

— While health departments are being required to seek accreditation, Health Commissioner Wes Vins said the proposed state budget has an allocation of $8 million toward that, but it is money which is not going to be available to the Columbiana County General Health District.

“If the state of Ohio wants it, I think the state should have to help pay for it,” Vins said.

He also reported there is a plan to increase tobacco tax money, yet none of that is being slated to go toward public health departments either. Vins pointed out additional money like that could be used to help offset the costs of the BCMH program or the cost of accreditation.

— The board approved a change for a contract to replace two failing septic systems through the Ohio EPA Home Sewage Treatment System Repair and Replacement Program. The change order included a $2,900 easement, which will actually save on the cost of the project overall. Additionally, the board awarded two more projects, one on Anderson Street and one on Dresden Avenue, to Paul Lipp, who bid $29,270 for the project. Finally, they announced there will be enough money in the program, which is through the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund, to do one more bid group this year. The bid will be for a project on Echo Valley and bids will be accepted until 4 p.m. April 18.

— The board approved River Valley Physicians Skin Cancer Screening to do the next skin cancer clinic. The group is not raising the contract from the two doctors who had it before and it will cost the board $250 for the afternoon.

— The board will be advertising to hire for a mosquito internship and a seasonal temporary sanitarian job. The positions are temporary from May to November. The sanitarian in training position gives someone eligible and ready to learn the position a chance to get hands-on training with the health department. The mosquito internship went to a college student last year and deals with the monitoring and trapping of the mosquito population in Columbiana County.

djohnson@mojonews.com

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.39/week.

Subscribe Today