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Ohio Farm Bureau backs bill to expand rural healthcare access

Ohio Farm Bureau says the need for access to rural healthcare is growing.

Director of state policy and grassroots engagement Whitney Bowers says the organization is supporting Senate Bill 100, introduced by Senator Susan Manchester, whichwould allow the group to offer their members a health plan in their membership.

“When we think about people who are underemployed, maybe they’re working 3 or 4 days off the farm,” she says. “They’re not fully employed anywhere, so they don’t have access to an employer sponsored plan. This would be a really great option for them.”

She tells Brownfield the bill would be in addition to the current health benefit plan.

“What we’re working towards with these plans would be coverage with many of the essential health benefits that we think of, including office visits, hospitalization, telemedicine, prescriptions,” she says. “If our members are looking for a plan, I think this will meet the need.”

Bowers says companion legislation has now been introduced in the House.

AUDIO: Whitney Bowers, Ohio Farm Bureau