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Families, providers urge Ohio to create prescribed pediatric extended care centers to keep parents working and reduce hospital days
Summary
Providers, parents and pediatric specialists told the Senate Health Committee that House Bill 141 would create prescribed pediatric extended care centers (PPECs) to serve children with complex medical needs, reduce avoidable hospital days, and enable parents to remain employed; witnesses cited program examples, family stories, workforce concerns and potential Medicaid savings.
Multiple witnesses told the Senate Health Committee they support House Bill 141 to establish prescribed pediatric extended care centers (PPECs) in Ohio, a Medicaid-funded model that embeds nursing and therapeutic supports in licensed child-care settings so children with complex medical needs can attend safely and families can work.
Pam Green, president and CEO of Easterseals Redwood, described her organization’s PPEC model across the Ohio-Kentucky border and said the program prevented an estimated 50 emergency-room visits last year. “We estimate that our nurses prevented 50 ER visits last year,” Green said, and noted the cost of an ER visit to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital is $3,126 while an inpatient day in complex care can run about $15,232. Green said PPECs allow children to learn alongside typically developing peers while reducing…
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