Ohio Association of Health Plans

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We know who occupies the front lines in the battle to keep health care, and thus healthcare coverage, affordable: It’s the employers who work constantly to strike a delicate balance between financial stability and employee well-being. We appreciate their work, nicely described in this piece for Benefits Pro. https://lnkd.in/eqRyKUic

Helping ensure access to high-quality health care for all Ohioans is our reason for existing, but we get it — the industry can be complicated, and lots of people don’t think about it if they don’t have to. That’s why we keep our website stocked with blog posts, articles and infographics designed to make important issues as clear and simple as possible. A good place to start is with the OAHP Overview infographic, now live on our Advocacy page (link below). Take a look! https://oahp.org/advocacy/

Important news for women over 65: The US Preventive Services Task Force has a new recommendation for all women over 65 to be screened for Osteoporosis. Too many women don’t know they have osteoporosis until they suffer a bone fracture, and that can lead to serious health consequences and loss of independence. For women who have increased risk factors for fracture, the task force recommends screening for any who are postmenopausal, regardless of their age. https://lnkd.in/ex7BwKk4

With kindergarten vaccination rates declining and measles cases on the rise, everyone should be aware of this highly contagious disease. But even among the vaccinated, folks of a certain age — those born after 1957 and vaccinated before 1968 — may not have the protection they think they have. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that measles vaccines commonly used during that time period are less effective and recommends that people of that age, especially if they’re at higher risk because they are in a college setting, work in health care or are in close contact with immunocompromised people, get re-vaccinated. https://lnkd.in/eZnzmW8B

We’re so excited that plans are moving forward for statewide implementation of MyCare, Ohio’s innovative model of coordinated care?for “dual eligibles” — people who qualify for both Medicaid and Medicare. They are traditionally among the most vulnerable and costly patients, so providing person-centered care and helping them navigate the two systems helps them stay healthier and saves?taxpayers money.?Angela Weaver, our director of regulatory affairs, wrote about the?statewide move on our site. Check out her article below. https://lnkd.in/egqgVfBM

Ohio needs healthcare workers, and thousands of Ohioans need solid careers that will support families. But there’s a missing link:?too many new graduates and underemployed folks don’t know about the opportunities in health care or don’t know how to access them. Luckily, smart folks at The Health Collaborative?and the OHIO Alliance for Population Health have?put together Health Workforce Ohio to convene interested groups across the state with a laser focus on connecting people to jobs. Deirdre (Murphy) Beluan of the Collaborative and Richard Hodges of the Alliance wrote about the effort for our website below. https://lnkd.in/eT7_gVJj

The good news is, exercise can significantly reduce your risk of dementia. And the EVEN BETTER news is, you don’t have to train for a triathlon! A new study from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health suggests that as little as 35 minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous exercise — think a brisk walk or a bike ride — can lower your dementia risk by 41%. https://lnkd.in/eC_RxjKT

OAHP Director of Government Affairs Megan Richwine stays on top of legislative activity that could affect the affordability and accessibility of health care for Ohioans, helping General Assembly members better understand the potential?impact of their votes. Check out what she had to say recently about proposed coverage mandates and other ideas circulating at the Statehouse. https://lnkd.in/e3kZ2ttN

We’re proud of what our member health plans do to reward and encourage providers who put quality at the center of their operations — it’s not just a department with a dashboard any more! See below for a great read from Becker’s Clinical Leadership on this very encouraging trend. https://lnkd.in/gdsbjaBi