Health Care
Bill prohibiting mandatory nurse overtime moves on to Senate
A bill prohibiting overtime as a condition of employment for nurses is headed to its second hurdle to passage. A Senate committee will now consider the bill that has the support of nurses groups and individual medical professionals, along with a House vote approving the bill on an 80-13 vote. Speaker Larry Householder voted in […]
Top health officials warn of coronavirus: ‘It’s going to get worse’
WASHINGTON — Trump administration officials painted a dire picture of the novel coronavirus outbreak on Wednesday, warning members of Congress that the public health crisis is far from over. “Is the worst yet to come?” House Oversight Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) asked Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious […]
DeWine asks colleges to go remote; sporting events to block fans to slow COVID-19 spread
Gov. Mike DeWine ramped up efforts Tuesday to curb the novel coronavirus in recommending — though not ordering — colleges to hold classes remotely, professional and collegiate teams to prohibit spectators, and other changes in nursing homes, churches, and prisons. The requests mark an escalation in Ohio’s preventative efforts after officials announced Monday that three […]
Congress rebukes Trump’s bid to slash CDC funding amid outbreak
WASHINGTON — U.S. House lawmakers resoundingly rebuffed a Trump administration request to cut funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention amid the coronavirus crisis. The CDC director testified Tuesday before the House Appropriations Committee, where Republicans and Democrats alike said Congress won’t comply with the budget cuts requested in Trump’s fiscal year 2021 […]
Secretary of State announces more polls to be relocated amid COVID-19 fears
Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced plans Tuesday to relocate at least 125 polling locations just seven days before primary voting begins, a number that has swelled as a result of mounting COVID-19 related concerns. At a press conference, LaRose said he could not immediately say how many voters are among those assigned to those […]
Federal bill seeks more sick days for workers as coronavirus cases increase
A federal bill co-sponsored by Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown wants to extend the sick day policies for all workers in light of continuing reports of coronavirus. The legislation would allow workers to accrue a week of paid sick leave, along with an additional two weeks being made available “immediately in the event of any public […]
6th District Senate candidates seek changes to child welfare system, health care in Ohio
Two candidates in the race to succeed Peggy Lehner in the Ohio Senate are focused on health care and the next generation as their inspirations for a General Assembly run. The contested primary in the Republican-held seat pits a current member of the House of Representatives, Niraj Antani, R-Miamisburg, against two newcomers to candidacy, Rachel […]
Eight days before primaries, coronavirus detection in Ohio shake up voting plans, rallies
A week out from primary voting, state officials are planning to relocate about 75 polling locations from nursing homes and schools to combat the spread of COVID-19 in Ohio. The announcement came shortly after three Ohioans from Cuyahoga County were diagnosed with the novel coronavirus. Along with declaring a formal state of emergency, Gov. Mike […]
House Dems ask DeWine to create temporary paid sick leave due to coronavirus
House Democratic lawmakers sent a letter to Gov. Mike DeWine Monday urging him to consider creating a temporary paid sick leave program to lessen the impact a coronavirus outbreak would have on the state. “We appreciate that the Ohio Department of Health is asking employers to be flexible with their sick leave policies and allowing […]
‘They’re just going uninsured:’ How the youngest Ohioans are losing health coverage
The rate of young children in Ohio without health insurance is surging. Health care professionals attribute the rise in children under six years old without coverage to a hot economy shrinking Medicaid rolls to technical errors in an already complex Medicaid system. Whatever the case, the trend reverses years of steady decline in the rate […]
Political rallies in the coronavirus era? Ohio health officials aren’t worried
A presidential primary and a novel coronavirus are raging concurrently in the United States, but public health officials said Thursday they’re not concerned about the possible spread of the virus through the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds of campaign rallies. While Gov. Mike DeWine and Public Health Director Dr. Amy Acton issued a formal order to mostly prohibit […]
U.S. Senate Democrats slam Trump officials for coronavirus response
WASHINGTON — U.S. senators want Trump administration officials to be more forthcoming about coronavirus amid concerns the White House has given misinformation on the disease. A Senate panel with oversight on health issues heard from top public officials Tuesday from the Centers for Disease Control, the National Institutes of Health, and the Food and Drug […]