Barbara Boyd for Ohio House District 9: Sun News endorsement

Posted on October 25, 2010 by Barbara

Residents in Ohio House District 9, which includes Cleveland Heights, East Cleveland, University Heights and a small portion of Cleveland, have a good representative in the Statehouse in Barbara Boyd. As she completes her second two-year term, we believe Boyd warrants a third term in office.

The Cleveland Heights Democrat is well aware of the critical challenges facing the state, most notably the $8 billion budget hole that must be filled next year. In previous budgets, the state has cut human services funding to help balance the budget, to the point that funding is quite scarce for an agency upon which a large number of people statewide rely. Boyd has been an advocate for human services workers who have bore the brunt of state funding cuts and is determined to make sure they are not pinched any more.

Boyd chaired the House Health Committee this term and is hoping that federal health care reform can help spur job creation in the state and especially in her district, which includes the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals. She also supports the governor’s push to place slot machines in Ohio’s race tracks as a means of boosting the economy, even though she opposes gambling.

Her opponent, University Heights Republican Charles Perkel, offers few substantive ideas. He is critical of Boyd for not having a district office and not providing adequate representation, but those who live in the 9th District know they can meet with Boyd anytime in her living room and she will listen to their concerns. Boyd is an effective legislator and she deserves the chance to continue serving her district in Columbus.

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The Plain Dealer Endorses Barbara Boyd

Posted on October 25, 2010 by Barbara

From The Plain Dealer, Sunday, October 17, 2010

“Boyd was a solid legislator in the 1990s, before her career was interrupted by term limits. Since her return to Columbus four years ago, she has resumed her work as an advocate for the youngest and oldest Ohioans, with an eye to preserving services in tight budgets. Having worked for former Gov. Bob Taft, Boyd knows how to cross the aisle to get things done — a skill that may prove invaluable after Nov. 2.”

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Rep. Boyd to Host “You and Your Credit Report” Info Session

Posted on June 1, 2010 by Barbara

State Representative Barbara Boyd (D-Cleveland Heights) and TransUnion, a local credit report company, will host a public information-sharing meeting on Thursday, June 3 at 6:00pm to explain how to read a credit report and answer common questions regarding credit reports and scores.
WHO: State Rep. Barbara Boyd (D-Cleveland Heights)
TransUnion
WHAT: Information Session on Credit Reports
WHERE: Cleveland Heights Community Center
1 Monticello Boulevard, Cleveland, OH 44118
WHEN: Thursday, June 3, 2010, 6:00 p.m.

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Rep. Boyd Requests Senate Action on Diabetes Cost Reduction Bill

Posted on May 28, 2010 by Barbara

State Rep. Barbara Boyd (D-Cleveland Heights) has sent a letter to Ohio Senate President Bill Harris requesting action on her legislation to reduce the cost of diabetes treatment for patients. The Diabetes Cost Reduction Act (HB 81) was approved in the Ohio House with bipartisan support in December of last year, but it has since been languishing in the Senate Insurance, Commerce and Labor Committee.
I feel very passionate about this bill, and served as the original House sponsor of this important legislation in 1994,” said Rep. Boyd in her letter to the Senate President. “Rep. Gardner and I have worked hard together to craft a sound, bipartisan approach to easing the cost burden on the thousands of Ohioans with diabetes, but we need your assistance in making this coverage a reality for the people of our state. “
In her letter, Rep. Boyd points out that Ohio is just one of four states that have not yet taken action on improving the lives of diabetes sufferers and giving them the adequate coverage and education they need.
She also counters arguments that the bill would result in higher insurance premiums, noting that no other state with a similar law has seen increases.
Rep. Boyd requests the Senate hold hearings and recommend HB 81 for approval.
The text of the letter is below, and the actual letter is attached.
I am writing to urge you to hold hearings and recommend House Bill 81 (Diabetes Cost Reduction Act) for approval. As you know, the bi-partisan legislation that I am co-sponsoring with Rep. Randy Gardner was passed by the Ohio House on December 12, 2009 and has since been pending in your Insurance, Commerce and Labor Committee. I am disappointed that it has yet to receive a first hearing.
I feel very passionate about this bill, and served as the original House sponsor of this important legislation in 1994. Rep. Gardner and I have worked hard together to craft a sound, bipartisan approach to easing the cost burden on the thousands of Ohioans with diabetes, but we need your assistance in making this coverage a reality for the people of our state.
Ohio is just one of four states that have not yet taken action on improving the lives of diabetes sufferers and giving them the adequate coverage and education they need. Every one of our Midwestern neighbors has adopted legislation such as HB 81 and none of those states has seen premiums rise directly because of this bill, nor have any of those states repealed their diabetes coverage bills due to increased costs. For over 15 years, the opponents of this bill have repeatedly been invited to submit data from any of the 46 other states where this bill is already law that supports their claims of rising premiums and unaffordable insurance rates due to the implementation of the DCRA. They have been unable to provide any such evidence.
The Cleveland Clinic, the Ohio State Medical Association, the Ohio Optometric Association, the Ohio Osteopathic Association, the Ohio Pharmacists Association, the Ohio Podiatric Medical Association, and the Ohio Nurses Association are just a few of the many prominent health care organizations that support HB 81. These providers know the value in both health care and economic policy of providing diabetes medications, supplies and education to those Ohioans who suffer from diabetes.
Please consider the many Ohioans whose diabetes is a physical and financial strain and how this bill can positively impact their lives. Make Ohio the 47th state to pass such an important law.
Sincerely yours,
Barbara Boyd
State Representative
Ohio House—District 9

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Ohio House Approves Rep. Boyd Legislation to Expand Health Care Options

Posted on May 19, 2010 by Barbara

The Ohio House of Representatives this afternoon approved legislation sponsored by State Representative Barbara Boyd (D-Cleveland Heights) to allow Advanced Practice Nurses to prescribe medication for patients. The vote was a bi-partisan 85-13.
HB 206 allows Advanced Practice Nurses who complete an additional training course as well an extensive “externship” with a physician to prescribe what are known as “Schedule II substances.” These are drugs that have a high potential for abuse but also have important medical uses.
“Schedule II medications are essential for comfort and pain management for a variety of patients, including those in hospice care and those with acute pain,” said Rep. Boyd. “There is an increasing need for quality care for Ohioans and APNs can take on an essential role in treatment and alleviating pain for patients when a physician cannot be reached in a timely manner.”
Nurses testifying before the Ohio House Health Committee chaired by Rep. Boyd argued that they will be better able to relieve the suffering of their patients if they do not have to track down a physician who may not be as familiar with the patients’ case.
Many noted that the number of primary care physicians in Ohio is declining, while the population is aging and will need increasing medical care. That combination will make it even more difficult for a doctor to be directly involved in every aspect of patient care. Backers also believe HB 206 could reduce medical costs, since it is likely to eliminate the need for some patients to go to a hospital to receive care by a physician. .
Currently, APN’s can only prescribe these drugs to terminally ill patients for a maximum of a 24 hour supply, and then only if the course was initiated by a physician. Rep. Boyd’s bill removes these barriers.
The bill will take some time to fully go into effect. Even APNs who currently have a license to prescribe must undergo an additional training course prior to gaining this authority at their next license renewal.
There are approximately 8,000 Advanced Practice Nurses in Ohio. They are required to have a master’s degree, and already perform a number of functions in place of doctors including treating patients.
HB 206 now goes to the Ohio Senate for consideration.

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Rep. Boyd to Host Seminar on Credit Reports

Posted on May 12, 2010 by Barbara

State Representative Barbara Boyd (D-Cleveland Heights) and credit reporting company TransUnion, will host a community meeting on how a credit report can affect consumers. The session will be held Thursday, June 3rd at Cleveland Heights Community Center.
“Your credit score can make a difference in everything from whether you can get a loan to whether you will be hired for a job, yet many people have no idea what their score is or how to read the report,” said Rep. Boyd. “This meeting will help residents of my district understand what the report means, and how they can improve their score.”
The meeting will provide information about how to read a credit report and answer many common questions including what information is included in a credit report, how does the data get to your report, how long does it stay on your credit report, and how you can improve a credit risk score.
The meeting will be held on Thursday, June 3, 2010 and will begin at 6:00 p.m. at Cleveland Heights Community Center located at 1 Monticello Boulevard, Cleveland, OH 44118. This meeting is open to the public.

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Rep. Boyd Announces $50K for Helen S. Brown Senior Center

Posted on May 10, 2010 by Barbara

State Representative Barbara Boyd (D-Cleveland Heights) today announced the state will spend $50,000 on much-needed renovations at the East Cleveland Helen S. Brown Senior Center.
“Helen Brown was an incredible community leader, advocate and social worker,” Rep. Boyd said. “The Senior Center has continued to be a valuable community asset even though she is no longer with us. Our seniors deserve the absolute best, and this renovation will help give them a safer, more comfortable environment in which to live.”
The Helen S. Brown Senior Center was founded in 1972 to provide Senior Services in East Cleveland, home to the largest senior population in Cuyahoga County. The center provides daily congregate and homebound meals (25,000 meals served in 2009), a variety of wellness activities, weekly field trips and supportive living assistance.
State funds will be used to update electrical wiring and lighting, replace broken floor tiles, repair security doors and part of a damaged roof and fix interior and exterior walls.

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State Rep. Boyd Given “2010 Legislator of the Year” Award

Posted on March 8, 2010 by Barbara

State Representative Barbara Boyd (D-Cleveland Heights) has been awarded the “2010 Legislator of the Year” by The Ohio Covering Kids and Families Coalition (Ohio CKF). The award will be presented during a Legislative Reception at The Athletic Club of Columbus on Wednesday, March 10, 2010.
In giving the award, CKF says Rep. Boyd’s leadership through the years supports the expansion of coverage for children with disabilities, mental illnesses, and the elimination of red tape that keeps eligible children from the health care they need.
“Health care reform has been the topic on everyone’s minds, but we must not forget to prioritize the children when decisions are made,” said Rep. Boyd, chair of the Ohio House Health committee. “We are working hard at the state level to ensure that even our most vulnerable residents, especially children, get the best possible health care. It is vital to their future, and the future of society.”
Cindy Mann, the U.S. Director of the Center for Medicaid and State Operations is the keynote speaker for CKF reception, and will share her perspective on national health care reform and its impact on Ohio.
CKF’s current priorities are to enroll and retain more uninsured children and families who are eligible for Medicaid or the State Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP), simplify the enrollment & renewal processes, and secure the successful implementation of Ohio’s CHIP expansion.

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Rep. Boyd Honors Fallen Soldiers at Tuskegee Airmen Rededication Ceremony

Posted on February 8, 2010 by Barbara

State Rep. Barbara Boyd (D-Cleveland Heights) honored a group of fallen and often unmentioned WWII African American Air Force Soldiers at the Tuskegee Airmen Portrait Rededication and Reinstallation. The event, which is part of the larger Black History Month celebration in Ohio, was held at the Statehouse in Columbus.
“I am proud to participate in an event which sheds light on the significant contributions of these soldiers in one of our nation’s greatest wars,” Rep. Boyd said. “These men who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country deserve recognition. Visitors and legislators alike should be able to learn and be actively involved in this important but forgotten piece of history.”
The reinstallation will honor General Davis and every Tuskegee Airman who served their country with their patriotism and courage during World War II. The General Davis portrait is now placed outside the George Washington Williams Room for Statehouse visitors to see and enjoy.
The painting honors Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. (1912-2002) who was in the first Tuskegee Airmen class and later became the country’s first black general. General Davis was born in Washington, D.C., in 1912. Davis’ family moved to Ohio where he graduated from Central High School in Cleveland in 1929, and later attended Western Reserve University in Cleveland.
Davis was among the first five African-American officers to earn their wings from the Tuskegee Army Airfield in 1942. He was the first black officer to solo an Army Air Corps aircraft. He went on to command the 332nd Fighter Group of the Tuskegee Airmen. Davis was the first African-American general in the U.S. Air Force.
To view video of the ceremony on the Web, visit www.OhioChannel.org.

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State Rep. Boyd’s Uniformity of Physician Ranking Systems Bill Passes Ohio House

Posted on February 3, 2010 by Barbara

The Ohio House of Representatives today approved a bill sponsored by State Representative Barbara Boyd (D-Cleveland Heights) to ensure families have comparable information about physicians’ performances before choosing a doctor. House Bill 122 creates standards and procedures for health care insurers that use ratings systems for physicians. The vote was 96-1.
“With comparable ratings available, the system will be a valuable tool to pick the best physicians for Ohio’s families,” Rep. Boyd said. “My bill is equitable for patients, doctors, and insures alike. The evaluative criteria ensure that doctors are measured on things that really matter to their patients, like quality of care. It doesn’t include any requirement that insurance companies create a designation system, instead it provides requirements for those insurers that already do.”
To ensure uniformity in the rating systems, insurers must hire an independent examiner to review their system every 6 months. The new systems must include the following provisions: recognition of physician responsibilities, data from claims, assessment of data, statistical analyses, and a quality-of-care component. Representative Boyd, who serves as Chairwoman of the House Health Committee, also specifies that HB 122’s requirements apply to Medicaid and third party administrators in addition to health insurers.
The states of New York and Colorado both have instituted similar regulations.
HB 122 now goes to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.

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