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Sponsors pitch House Bill 7 to reduce infant and maternal mortality with targeted early‑childhood investments
Summary
Representatives White and Humphrey presented House Bill 7 (the Strong Foundations Act) in a first hearing, proposing about $34 million across FY 2024–25 for home visiting, WIC modernization, rental stabilization for pregnant mothers, Help Me Grow expansions and Medicaid diagnostic code changes to improve early childhood mental‑health billing; sponsors promised further cost‑benefit documentation.
Representatives Kelly White and Emily Humphrey told the Senate Finance Committee that House Bill 7—called the Strong Foundations Act—would target the first 1,000 days of life with programs intended to reduce infant and maternal mortality and improve early development.
"If we don't invest now, we are going to pay later," Representative White said, summarizing the bill's premise and urging strategic investment in early intervention. White cited state health rankings and racial disparities, saying Ohio ranks 41st on infant mortality and that Black infants face "almost 2.5 times higher rate compared to white babies." She described multiple components of HB 7, including enabling Medicaid diagnostic codes for young children so providers can bill for assessment and therapy, a Healthy Beginnings at Home housing initiative to provide stable housing for pregnant mothers, expanded home visiting and Help Me Grow services, pilot early‑head‑start programs in high‑need areas, and modernization of WIC enrollment to increase uptake.
Representative Humphrey summarized the bill's priorities and said HB 7 would appropriate about $34,000,000 across fiscal years 2024–2025 for measures to reduce maternal mortality, expand mental‑health services for young children, and strengthen supports for underserved communities. "We do believe that some of this can be done in this General Assembly," Humphrey said, pointing to targeted items sponsors hope can be advanced quickly.
Committee members asked for fiscal details. Senator Blessing expressed support and asked whether the fiscal note is revenue neutral; sponsors said they provided a detailed cost‑benefit analysis to the committee. Senator Hicks Hudson asked sponsors to focus on the "dollars and cents" and asked whether turning on Medicaid diagnostic codes has appropriation consequences; sponsors said 15 states have enabled similar codes, that turning the codes on should improve screening and billing for young children, and that they would follow up with documentation for members.
The hearing concluded with Senator Craig and other members offering supportive remarks about the bill's potential to link housing, health and workforce outcomes. The committee did not vote on HB 7 at this session; sponsors committed to provide the committee with the cost‑benefit analysis and additional implementation details through the chair.
