Eight-year-old diabetes advocate Jessi Martin speaks from the microphone as fellow diabetes advocates from all over Ohio prepare to rally at the steps of the Statehouse in Columbus. The paper dolls being held by some of the advocates were presented to public officials to represent the voices of all those in favor of Senate Bill 113. Approximately 700 paper dolls were constructed.
COLUMBUS – More than 100 diabetes advocates from all over Ohio made their way to the Statehouse in Columbus on Tuesday, Sept. 13 to voice their concerns regarding the passing of Senate Bill 113, also known as the Diabetes Cost Reduction Act.
The Tuesday hearing marked the second hearing under Senate Insurance, Commerce and Labor Committee regarding the passing of the Diabetes Cost Reduction Act.
If passed, the Diabetes Cost Reduction Act would ensure that Ohioans with diabetes who purchase their health insurance through state regulated insurance companies would be covered under their policy for diabetes education, equipment and supplies, all of which are necessary for diabetics to carry-on a healthy lifestyle.
Included in the group that visited the statehouse on Tuesday was diabetic Jessi Martin, 8, of Williamsburg, who has made her voice heard over the past year as she attended rallies and meetings in Ohio to show her support for the bill.
Martin was no stranger to the statehouse as she visited on Tuesday.
At the beginning of the year, Jessi Martin and her mother Debi Martin paid a visit to the statehouse with hopes of addressing Ohio Governor Bob Taft regarding how important the Diabetes Cost Reduction Act is to Ohioans with diabetes.
Jessi Martin didn't get to speak to a public official that day but she did get to speak to Taft's health advisor, Christine Oliver. The diabetes advocate read a book to Oliver titled "The Little Story About a Big Turnip," a Russian folk tale that illustrates how even the smallest member of a group can make a huge difference.
Since then, Jessi Martin has appeared in local newspapers and appeared on local and nationwide television stations. She was recently contacted by a staff writer for Ohio Magazine that wished to include her in a story about local heroes.
While Jessi Martin has been very vocal about supporting the Diabetes Cost Reduction Act, she is not alone.
Diabetic children of all ages have rallied behind Jessi Martin's courage to speak out in favor of Bill 113.
"It's really encouraging to see all the hard work from people all over the state. It seems that people are realizing the importance of this bill," said Debi Martin. "You get a feeling of how people are trying to help. To see senators speaking in favor of the bill is just wonderful."
One Columbus-area Ohio Senator speaking publicly in favor of the Diabetes Cost Reduction Act is Ray Miller, who also attended the Tuesday hearing and the rally following the hearing.
"As legislators we would be hypocrites to deny the same coverage that we get as public employees to the public," said Miller.
About 100,000 people with diabetes in Ohio do not have their basic diabetes needs covered by their state regulated insurance carriers. This represents $1 billion in out-of-pocket expenses each year for people with diabetes so that they may adequately care for their disease.
"Ohio is facing a critical health care crisis which will only get worse if we do not act now," Miller said.
Many of Ohio's diabetic children have watched their parents work hard to purchase needed diabetic supplies regularly for their children to survive, while many insurance companies refuse to pay for necessary supplies.
Surprisingly enough, 46 other states in the U.S. have passed similar legislation requiring state regulated insurance companies to cover diabetic supplies. Ohio is one of the few that has not yet passed the legislation though the legislation was drafted many years ago by the American Diabetes Association.
Over one million people in Ohio are diabetic. Approximately 12,000 people die each year from diabetes complications and nearly 200,000 people are hospitalized. Thirty percent of people with diabetes have at least one day per month in which they cannot perform their usual activities because of their diabetes.
Most state-regulated insurance companies in Ohio are not supportive of the Diabetes Cost Reduction Act and feel if the legislation is passed premiums will significantly increase. However, 46 other states have passed the legislation and have not seen a significant increase in premiums.
According to a press release from Miller, Bill 113, if passed, would save state Medicaid dollars and million of dollars in productivity, emergency room visits, hospital stays and surgeries. Studies have shown that for every one dollar spent covering people with diabetes, three dollars is saved in health care costs for diabetes related complications.
"It is time for Ohio to take diabetes seriously," said Miller. "This is a matter of life and death and there is nothing more serious than that."
Ohio diabetes advocates are urging those in favor of the bill to contact their local legislators.
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