HB 163 Summary

• Amends Ohio Revised Code sections 3701.131 and 3701.501 to establish five sickle cell anemia comprehensive treatment centers primarily for adult patients at teaching hospitals associated with medical schools.

• Requires hospitals seeking to operate a center to demonstrate commitment to sickle cell care and research, maintain uniform emergency and inpatient care management plans, establish an outpatient sickle cell day hospital, and collaborate with community-based or nonprofit organizations experienced in sickle cell care.

• Directs the director of health to annually distribute funds to each center for a full-time dedicated nurse practitioner and social worker, plus partial salary support for a medical director authorized to practice medicine and surgery.

• Creates a newborn screening advisory council with fourteen members to advise the director on genetic, endocrine, and metabolic disorder screening standards and make recommendations for adoption of rules.

• Establishes a sickle cell fund supported by at least $3.75 from each newborn screening fee to defray costs of sickle cell programs, based on legislative findings that comprehensive treatment centers reduce hospitalization costs averaging $6,223 per patient in 2004.