Pediatric Advocacy/Peds on Call

Committee Chair: William Cotton, MD

The Ohio AAP has a long and successful history of advocacy for children and pediatricians. In the past year, the Ohio AAP has advocated successfully for the following legislation:

Increase of Medicaid eligibility for up to 300% FPL, increased reimbursement for physicians for Medicaid services, and coverage for foster children up to the age of 21.
$800,000 state earmark for an autism screening program for autism and developmental delays to be run by the Ohio AAP.
$200,000 state earmark for Reach Out and Read Ohio, a program of the Ohio AAP, Ohio AAP Foundation and National ROR.
Reallocation of state funding for Prevnar vaccine.
Increase in funding for the Bureau for Children with Medical Handicaps.
Teen driving restrictions.
Mental Health Parity.
Physical education standards in schools.
Increase in funding for early care and education programs in Ohio.

This is just a sample of the efforts that the Ohio AAP Chapter has undertaken to insure the best health care possible for Ohio’s children and to secure the best working environment possible for Ohio pediatricians.

Pediatricians On Call is a network of pediatricians who interact with their state representative or senator on behalf of pediatrics. Once you become part of the grassroots advocacy team, the committee will help you get started as an advocate. An Action Alert will be sent when a key vote is pending at the Ohio Statehouse. Members of the Pediatricians On Call will be asked to contact their elected official to share the Ohio AAP's position on that particular issue.