Ohio Legislative Action is lead by state leads Kerry Elson and Abby Nalabolu. Please contact them directly to become involved in legislative advocacy in Ohio.
Don’t forget to fill in the Ohio Contact form and register for the next Ohio ASPIRE ChitChat support group!
Please see below for Bill information and Call to Action projects.
Fill in the Ohio Contact Form
Share your contact information to receive updates specific to PANS/PANDAS legislative updates in Ohio. Rest assured, your information will not be sold or shared, and you will not be added to ASPIRE’s general mailing list. This is strictly for Ohio-based updates.
Fill in the contact form today: Ohio Contact Form
Sign Up for the ASPIRE Newsletter: Newsletter Form
General Legislative Information
- Legislative Recap – PANS PANDAS Legislation Nationwide
- How Get Started: How to talk to your state representative
- Look Up Your State Representative & State Senator in your district
- ASPIRE Legislative Action Toolkit: Information for Legislators Toolkit
- Legislative Talking Tips
- Legislative Writing Points & Examples: Testimony & Short Form Emails
Current Legislative Efforts
Bill Status: Coming Soon
Bill Language: Coming Soon
Current Bill Summary: Coming Soon
Sponsor: Coming Soon
Co-Sponsors: Coming Soon
- Senate Financial Institutions, Insurance & Technology Committee
- House Public Insurance and Insurance Committee
Current Call to Action Items
Progress is being made in Ohio but real change happens when legislators hear directly from the families they represent. We will be sharing upcoming Calls to Action to help educate Ohio legislators about PANS/PANDAS and why insurance coverage matters. You don’t need to be an expert in policy or medicine. Legislators speak with constituents every day, and they expect to hear from families about issues affecting their health and access to care.
Your lived experience is powerful. Sharing your story helps lawmakers understand what PANS/PANDAS looks like in real life—and why action is needed. We’ll guide you every step of the way, and participation is always at your comfort level.
CTA 1 – Ohio Contact Form
Fill out the Ohio Contact form. While we will announce CTAs on social media, we must be able to reach people more quickly and consistently!
CTA 2 – Speaking with Legislators
We will announce when it is time for your to contact your legislators. Please stay tuned!
Previous Legislative Action
OHIO HOUSE BILL 189 – UPDATE 2021:
CALL TO ACTION OHIOANS. We have a newly updated insurance mandate bill for the 2021 session. The new bill is House Bill #189: Require insurers and Medicaid cover PANDAS and PANS. Our Ohio legislative team is working with Representative Bob Young. We now have five co-sponsors. Also, we have added Medicaid coverage to the bill.
Your Opinion Matters! Your Ohio legislative team is preparing to testify in front of the Ohio House Health Committee (HB 189) in April or May of 2021. If any of you are interested in submitting a WRITTEN LETTER/TESTIMONIAL, we have an opportunity to submit it for you. Your voice is important and we want everyone to have an opportunity to be heard!! See below for the link to our Testimony Guide.
Link to House Bill #189: Require insurers and Medicaid cover PANDAS and PANS
WE NEED YOUR HELP! – Send emails and make phone calls!
Cosponsors: Representatives Timothy E. Ginter, Laura Lanese, Joseph A. Miller III, Reggie Stoltzfus, Tom Young
Link to Health Committee Reps including addresses and phone numbers
Written Testimony – WE NEED YOUR STORY!
We are submitting written testimony from families all over OHIO to tell the story of PANDAS/PANS, and how PANDAS/PANS has affected their lives. These letters can come from the patient, parents, siblings, extended family, doctors, therapists, teachers, etc. ANYONE who has experienced your story with you is welcome to submit a ONE PAGE testimonial.
Written Testimony Guidelines
Please follow this link for instructions on how to write/submit your letter. Please focus as much as possible on the challenge to find and receive care, and especially to receive insurance coverage! Click here for the Ohio Template.
We want our bill to pass the health committee this year. Sadly, in December of 2020, our former House Bill #488 died. We went to work immediately, and we need your help to get this bill through the House and the Senate to get this bill passed into law!
Questions?
If you have any questions – please feel free to reach out to your Ohio legislative team or email PANDAS PANS Advocacy Ohio.
- Rohnda McCloskey
- Leigh Betz
- Valerie Wolford
- Erin Keil
- Peg Eichner
ASPIRE Board and Professional Advisory Board Testimony Letters
In Support of House Bill #189: Require insurers and Medicaid cover PANDAS and PANS.
Gabriella True
