Ohio families affected by diabetes and a bipartisan group of State Senators are rallying at the State Capitol today, urging Ohio to join 46 states in providing state-regulated insurance coverage for diabetes supplies, tools, and education known as the Diabetes Cost Reduction Act. Today, the Senate Insurance, Commerce and Labor Committee will also hold a hearing on the Diabetes Cost Reduction Act, S.B. 113, which is sponsored by State Sen. Jeffry Armbruster (R-13-Ridgeville). 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 regulated insurance carriers. Since then, the prevalence of diabetes has increased by 10 percent annually in Ohio.
"I thought health insurance is meant to cover the things people need to stay healthy," said Nicole Pedone, a 31-year-old Cleveland woman, who developed diabetes at the age of 10, and subsequently lost her eyesight in 1998 because she did not have adequate health insurance. "So why don't Ohio lawmakers ensure that health coverage includes the diabetes tools and supplies that Ohioans need to survive?"
The American Diabetes Association credits Sen. Armbruster for his dedicated leadership on the issue. The Association also praises the support of Senators Kevin Coughlin (R-27-Cuyahoga Falls), Eric Fingerhut (D-25-Cleveland), Randy Gardner (R-2-Bowling Green), and Ray Miller (D-15-Columbus).
"The mission of the American Diabetes Association is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes," said Darlene L. Cain, Chair of the Board-elect of the American Diabetes Association. "We are honored to be joined today by Ohio lawmakers who share our commitment to improve the lives of Ohioans with diabetes by ensuring that they have access to health insurance that is affordable and meets their management needs."
Among the children affected by diabetes who are attending Tuesday's rally is Jessi Martin, an 8-year-old from Greater Cincinnati, who has had type 1 diabetes since she was 2 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. She and her family have also started a website - http://www.jessisstory.com/ - which is raising awareness of the issue.
"Since Jessi developed diabetes when she was 2 years old, we have 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 Debi Martin, Jessi's mom and a volunteer with the ADA.
Diabetes afflicts more than 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.
"Passage of the Diabetes Cost Reduction Act will not only ensure access to basic supplies necessary for diabetes sufferers to maintain their health, but it will ultimately save money by preventing emergency room visits, hospital stays and surgeries resulting from un-regulated diabetes," Sen. Armbruster said. "I especially want to thank Debi and Jessi Martin and Nicole Pedone for sharing their stories today. I appreciate all the support we've received for this legislation and I am committed to continuing to fight for passage of S.B. 113 in the Ohio legislature."
The Diabetes Cost Reduction Act has been languishing 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. 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.
