Columbus residents have a right to health. City council, statehouse must act.

These days, Ohio’s healthcare system increasingly feels like a house divided against itself.

Many Ohioans are grappling with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic just a few months after the emergency declaration was lifted.

The glaring health disparities in Ohio have amplified the prevalence of non-communicable diseases and worsened health outcomes, according to the Health Policy Institute.

Specifically, maternal mortality and opioid overdose deaths have been exacerbated in recent years in Ohio.

Why must Ohio's health care system change?

These are driven by many factors that ultimately prevent marginalized groups from seeking proper care. Addressing these disparities by establishing an inclusive, effective healthcare system is essential to fostering a more equitable society for Ohioans. 

While Ohioans suffer from non-communicable diseases, two concerns stand out: maternal mortality and opioid overdoses.

Alarmingly, Ohio is second in the nation for total overdose fatalities, with the Opioid Overdose Death Rate per 100,000 being 29.6 compared to the US 11.9, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Franklin County experienced a 40% increase in overdose deaths from 2019 to 2020, with over 750 residents unintentionally overdosing in 2020. The maternal mortality rate in Ohio is 29.8 per 100,000 live births for Black mothers, compared to 13.7 for White mothers.

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Ohio lawmakers must implement progressive policies that create structural change at the state level.

For young mothers, Medicaid can be expanded to include coverage for doula services to assist mothers through pregnancy.

Furthermore, harm reduction strategies should aim to assist and rehabilitate opioid users. Naloxone training programs for community members save lives during emergencies National Library of Medicine.

Supervised consumption sites create controlled environments for opioid use, which reduces the risk of overdoses. 

How would universe health care help Ohioans?

Now that 100,000 Ohioans have been unenrolled from Medicaid as of July 2023 (with more disenrollments to come), policies must be developed to protect these individuals.

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House Bill 446, the Ohio Health Care Plan, establishes universal health coverage for every Ohio citizen.

This plan includes a comprehensive health care package that eliminates co-pays, premiums, and deductibles. Such policies can further reduce maternal mortality rates and the number of overdose deaths. 

On a broader level, there are avenues to mitigate these issues. There is a national movement to pass Medicare for All Resolutions in municipalities to support the Medicare for All Act 2023.

Cleveland, Dayton, Toledo, and Lucas County are just a few cities that have unanimously passed resolutions supporting Medicare for All.

Columbus City Council must put their constituents' health at the forefront and pass similar resolutions to ensure Columbus’ residents' right to health. 

In this critical period, where the very foundation of healthcare accessibility is being threatened in Ohio, Ohio’s legislators need to prioritize the accessibility of healthcare services. It is not enough to simply acknowledge the current state of healthcare; instead, there must be structural change at every level. Federal policy reforms like the Medicare for All Act can set new standards for healthcare accessibility and affordability.

State-level initiatives such as the Ohio Health Care Plan can build upon these foundations.

Moreover, local municipalities can play a pivotal role in combating maternal mortality and opioid overdose to improve the lives of Ohioans. Our legislatures must put healthcare at the forefront for change because, if it is not accessible, it is not acceptable. 

Amber Akhter is a student at Case Western Reserve University studying biochemistry and medical anthropology. 

Sean Liu is a student at Case Western Reserve University studying psychology and medical anthropology. They are part of Partners in Health, a global organization focusing on local and global health equity.