Ohio Legislative Alert -- VOTE NO on HB 412

NURSING HOME BILL SETS THE WRONG COURSE

PLEASE CALL STATE SENATORS TODAY AND TELL THEM:

TAKE A STEP FORWARD FOR QUALITY,

NOT A STEP BACKWARD FOR ACCOUNTABILITY 

AARP Ohio needs your help to stop or alter legislation under 
consideration by the Ohio General Assembly.

The Ohio Senate Judiciary Committee on Civil Justice is scheduled to 
vote on House Bill 412 this Wednesday (April 24). The bill attempts 
to address problems with nursing home liability insurance by 
restricting nursing home residents=92 rights in our legal system.  Many 
nursing home owners blame this =93insurance crisis=94 on expensive 
lawsuits. However, through several months of deliberations and 
testimony, no data has been presented that shows a connection between 
lawsuits and liability insurance premiums.

AARP is asking the Ohio Senate to put the quality of care first when 
it considers this bill. AARP Ohio opposes this bill because it does 
nothing to enhance the quality of care and, in fact, would have no 
direct impact on liability insurance cost or availability.

In the current economy, and especially since Sept. 11, businesses of 
every kind across the country, including nursing homes, have been 
facing problems with the availability and affordability of liability 
insurance. AARP believes that insurance problems need insurance 
solutions. House Bill 412 does not offer any insurance solutions. 
Instead, H.B. 412 would help poor performing nursing homes by scaling 
back important tools nursing home residents currently have to hold 
these homes accountable. 

There is no evidence that rolling back nursing home residents=92 rights 
will reduce liability insurance costs or make liability insurance 
more available.  This type of legislation has not reduced the cost of 
insurance or made it more available in other states.  However, high 
quality care does reduce insurance costs and increases its 
availability.  Nursing homes with a history of providing good care 
can more easily obtain affordable liability insurance than facilities 
with a history of providing poor care.

AARP believes that all nursing home residents should be treated with 
dignity and respect. We also believe that when residents are 
neglected, abused or injured that the nursing homes responsible 
should be held accountable.  Poor performing nursing homes should not 
be rewarded at the expense of patients=92 rights.

IF YOUR STATE SENATOR IS ON THIS COMMITTEE (SEE FOLLOWING LIST AND 
PHONE NUMBERS), PLEASE CALL HIM TODAY AND TELL HIM:

TAKE A STEP FORWARD FOR QUALITY, NOT A STEP BACKWARD FOR ACCOUNTABILITY =96
VOTE NO ON HOUSE BILL 412


Ohio Senate Judiciary Committee on Civil Justice

Senator Jeff Jacobson, Chair

Representing Parts of Montgomery County - 6th Senate District
937-884-5505 (District)
614-466-4538 (Columbus Office)


Senator Louis Blessing, Vice Chair

Representing Parts of Hamilton County - 8th Senate District
513-385-5302 (District)
614-466-8068 (Columbus Office)


Senator Ron Amstutz

Representing Wayne, Medina and part of Cuyahoga County - 22nd Senate Distric=
t
330-262-7371 (District)
614-466-7505 (Columbus Office)


Senator Steve Austria

Representing Madison, Clark and Greene Counties - 10th Senate District
937-429-5230 (District)
614-466-3780 (Columbus Office)


Senator David Goodman

Representing Parts of Franklin County - 3rd Senate District
614-237-5535 (District)
614-466-8064 (Columbus Office)


Senator Jay Hottinger

Representing Licking, Fairfield, Hocking, Perry and part of Athens 
County - 31st Senate District
740-349-7784 (District)
614-466-5838 (Columbus Office)


Senator Ben Espy, Ranking Minority Member

Representing Part of Franklin County - 15th Senate District
614-236-5968 (District)
614-466-5131 (Columbus Office)


Senator Eric Fingerhut

Representing Parts of Cuyahoga County - 25th Senate District
216-397-0357 (District)
614-466-4583 (Columbus Office)


Senator Leigh Herington

Representing Portage and parts of Summit County - 28th Senate District
330-626-1200 (District)
614-466-7041 (Columbus Office)


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