News & Advocacy

OAR’s Spring Virtual Advocacy Day

posted: May 18, 2021

On Friday, May 7th, 2021, the Ohio Association of Rheumatology (OAR) conducted its second virtual Advocacy Day. Speaking with elected officials and connecting on key issues via Zoom is the next best thing to meeting in-person at the Statehouse, and a group of OAR members took this opportunity as a valuable chance to advocate for our biggest legislative priorities to our legislators.

OAR board members were on hand to participate in a series of calls with state Representatives. Those OAR members participating in the advocacy day calls were able to speak to Representatives Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland), Jessica Miranda (D-Forest Park), Mark Fraizer (R-Newark), and Brian Lampton (R-Beavercreek). These elected officials are members of the House Insurance Committee. The two major issues up for discussion were the legislative proposals concerning non-medical switching and co-pay accumulators.

These two issues will continue to be prominent in OAR’s advocacy agenda for 2021. Advocacy is a process, and it was important that OAR was able to speak with legislators and educate them about these issues despite the ongoing obstacles of the COVID-19 pandemic.