Diabetes News
Ohio Is One of Four States That Fails to Ensure That Its Citizens Have Basic Diabetes Tools, Supplies and Education Covered by State Regulated Insurance Carriers
COLUMBUS, Ohio, September 8, 2005 (PRNewswire) — Children and families affected by diabetes will travel here from throughout the state to rally in support of diabetes health care reform legislation Tuesday, September 13, at 12:30 p.m. at the South Plaza of the State Capitol. The rally will follow a Senate Insurance, Commerce and Labor Committee hearing on the "Diabetes Cost Reduction Act," which would help to ensure that Ohioans with diabetes who purchase their health insurance through state-regulated insurance companies are covered for diabetes education, equipment and supplies. Currently, Ohio is one of just four states — along with Alabama, Idaho, and North Dakota — that has not passed legislation to require comprehensive diabetes health coverage. In 1999, it was estimated that about 100,000 people with diabetes in Ohio did not have their basic diabetes needs covered by their state regulatedinsurance carriers. Since then, the prevalence of diabetes has increased by 10 percent annually in Ohio.
The American Diabetes Association credited State Sen. Jeffry Armbruster (R-13-Ridgeville), the lead sponsor of the bill in the Senate, for his dedicated leadership on the issue. Sen. Armbruster will participate in the rally. Senators Kevin Coughlin (R-27-Cuyahoga Falls), Eric Fingerhut (D-25-Cleveland), Randy Gardner (R-2-Bowling Green), and Ray Miller (D-15-Columbus) — all supporters of the legislation — have been invited to attend. The Chair of the Board-Elect of the American Diabetes Association, Darlene L. Cain, will also participate in the rally.
Among the children affected by diabetes who will attend the rally will be Jessi Martin, an 8-year-old from Greater Cincinnati, who has had type 1 diabetes since she was 2 and half years old. Jessi and her family recently organized a letter drive, which resulted in over 800 letters from Ohio residents being delivered to state lawmakers, urging them to pass the Diabetes Cost Reduction Act.
"Since Jessi developed diabetes when she was 2-years-old, we understood how vital diabetes supplies, tools and education are to triumphing over this disease. I have faith that once the legislators and the governor understand this as well, they will pass the Diabetes Cost Reduction Act," said Debbie Martin, Jessi's mom and a volunteer with the ADA.
Nicole Pedone, a 31-year-old Cleveland native, was diagnosed with diabetes in 1985 when she was 10-years-old and subsequently lost her eyesight in 1998 because she did not have health insurance that covered her diabetes needs. She will share her story on Tuesday.
Diabetes afflicts over 1 million people in Ohio, including 45,000 children. Every year, over 18,000 Ohioans die from diabetes complications and more than 250,000 Ohioans are hospitalized because of the disease. Management and treatment of the disease is vital to people with diabetes, and that requires supplies, including blood glucose strips, a blood glucose monitor, insulin and an insulin delivery system (such as an insulin pump, injector pen or syringes). Currently, none of these are required coverage by state-regulated insurance companies.
"I strongly believe that passage of the Diabetes Cost Reduction Act will save money over the long run. Studies have shown that for every dollar we spend in diabetes coverage, we will be able to save three dollars in costs associated with treating complications resulting from un-regulated diabetes," Sen. Armbruster said. "The ultimate goal of this bill is to ensure that more diabetes patients will have access to the supplies and medication they need to maintain their health and thereby reduce the incidence of emergency room visits, hospital stays, and surgeries.
"The Diabetes Cost Reduction Act has been pending in Ohio since 1994. Using available data between 1992 and 1999, diabetes-related complications dramatically increased in Ohio. Limb amputations increased by 26 percent. Blindness increased by 21 percent. Kidney disease increased by 332 percent. Deaths due to diabetes have increased by 20 percent. According to the Ohio Department of Health, diabetes contributes to the death of more than 18,000 Ohioans each year. The direct and indirect cost of diabetes in Ohio in 1999 was $6.6 billion, an increase of more than 50 percent from 1994.
The American Diabetes Association is the nation's leading voluntary health organization supporting diabetes research, information and advocacy. Our advocacy efforts include helping to combat discrimination against people with diabetes; advocating for the increase of federal diabetes research and programs; and improved access to, and quality of, healthcare for people with diabetes. The Association's mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. Founded in 1940, the Association provides service to hundreds of communities across the country. For more information please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit http://www.diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.
What: Children and other Ohioans affected by diabetes will rally at the State Capitol, joining Senate supporters of the Diabetes Cost Reduction Act to urge the passage of the legislation, which will help to ensure that people with diabetes in Ohio have their basic diabetes health care needs covered by state regulated insurance carriers.
When: Tuesday, September 13 at 12:30 p.m.
Where: South plaza (State St. location) at the Ohio State Capitol, Columbus
Who: American Diabetes Association volunteers, as well as State Sens. Jeff Armbruster, and other Senate supporters.