Thanks Pete!  Excellent work!   My initial thought is that I am not in favor of the two CB initiatives.   Let them carry that heavy lift.  I’d have to be convinced to support.

Enjoy Florida if you can.  Jump in the ocean with your floatys and send photos:)

Jamie

James W. Steele, MSW
Ohio Valley Residential Services, Inc.
President & CEO
1200 Edison Drive
Cincinnati, Ohio. 45216
513-200-3695

On Jun 5, 2026, at 11:21 AM, Peter Moore <PMoore@opra.org> wrote:


Hello everyone, I hope your day is off to a good start.

First, I want to let you know that I am heading to Florida for my mother-in-laws celebration of life.  Given everything that is going on, I will be available, if you need anything from me, give me a call.

I also want to provide some more detail regarding HB 795 and some conversations we have had.

Yesterday, when I was speaking to LADD board, Representative Odioso was also there, after our Q an A he and I spoke about the Bill.  He is taking the FWA very seriously and also agrees that FWA is not prevalent in the DD space.  I explained to him that our desire is to have DD carved out of 795 and we can focus on our modernization plan.  He was supportive of the idea and pledged his support.

While I was talking with Rep. Odioso, Rep Craig sent me a message.  Rep. Craig is from Wooster and is well versed in the Medicaid space and she is supportive of our modernization plan.  When I spoke with her, she started by apologizing for supporting a bill (795) that she was not fully aware of the last minute changes that were made, specifically the prohibition of family caregivers.  I appreciated the apology.  She also told me that she spoke with Speaker Huffman and expressed her disappointment with 795, she informed me that the Speaker asked her to help “fix” the bill.  I requested that we exclude DD from 795 and we can focus on our modernization plan.  Anthony Aquillo also had a conversation with her.  When I spoke to Rep. Craig last night she was having two amendments drafted 1 that would exclude DD from the Bill and the other is more of a scalpel approach using the amendments that we shared with you earlier this week.  She also shared that the prohibition of family caregivers will be removed from 795.  There was also some mention that the bill may be pulled entirely, or at least delayed to the fall.  Rep. Craig also offered to write a Bill to implement our modernization plan.  Rep. White would also be a supporter of our plan moving forward.

We are prepared quickly mobilize a member advocacy effort if needed.

We also spoke with Senator Romanchuk about HB 795 and he told us that he is part of a group of Senators charged with offering feedback.  We expressed our desire to exclude DD from the bill and he was open to that.  We will continue to keep you posted if it makes it to the senate.

During my discussion with Adam Herman, OACB, he share a couple of items they are working on.  The first is a Bill that will ensure that they are responsible for delivering early intervention and they want to pay 1/2 of what they are paying now and want the star to pick up the other 1/2 which equates to about $45 million (EI currently costs the counties $90m).  We have heard that the state is unwilling/unable to pay for 1/2.

The second item is there plan to cap waiver match at either 50% or 35% of annual revenue.  This would equate to generate/ask for $100-$250 million from the state.  Adam stated that this would stabilize the counties and they would be able to return money to tax payers.  I talked with Director Nash about this plan and she does not believe this will lead to long-term CB stabilization.  I plan on talking to Clay Weidner next week about their proposal.  OACB is seeking OPRA’s support with these proposals.  I do not think the legislature will look at this plan favorably and I believe there needs to be an effort to reform CBs as well.

As I mentioned this morning, after I was almost arrested at the airport, DODDs plan to regionalize the 10 counties is southeast Ohio is on its way.  I was also told that other counties from other areas of the state approached DODD interested in the concept of regionalization.  OACB continues to oppose the effort and have not been taking part of the discussion and design.

Thank you for your support and patience as we navigate all that is happening.  Please provide any feedback you would like to.  Thank you in advance for keeping this information in a safe space.

I hope you have a good weekend!

Pete

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