FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, April 9th, 2010
CONTACT INFO: Jason Koma (614) 527-6726
(Columbus, OH) – The Ohio State Medical Association (OSMA) awarded State Senators Kevin Coughlin and Eric Kearney with the Voice of Medicine Award at the association’s annual meeting in Columbus.
“Senators Coughlin and Kearney have shown a strong commitment to Ohio’s physicians and their patients by fighting to improve the health care delivery system in our state,” said Tim Maglione, senior director of the OSMA. “We are pleased to present them with the Voice of Medicine Award in gratitude for their work in the Ohio legislature.”
Sen. Coughlin (R-Cuyahoga Falls) has served as the Chairman of the Health, Human Services and Aging Committee for the past six years. He has sponsored and co-sponsored legislation which would provide greater access to medical care and also supported legislation which would provide for fairer reimbursement rates. Most recently, Sen. Coughlin was the primary sponsor of Senate Bill 64, pending legislation which would require health care plans to provide benefits for colorectal examinations.
“It is an honor to receive the Voice of Medicine Award from the OSMA,” said Coughlin. “I have fought hard to improve the health care delivery system in Ohio during my career. In doing so, I have worked closely with the OSMA to make sure that any proposals must protect the doctor-patient relationship while improving health care delivery in our state.”
Like Coughlin, Sen. Kearney (D-Cincinnati) has supported legislation to increase access to medical care and legislation to reduce the bureaucracy physicians confront when dealing with health insurers. This year marks his third annual walk from Cincinnati to Columbus to bring attention to the children’s health issues. He is also the primary sponsor of Senate Bill 24, pending legislation which would establish nutritional standards for food and beverages sold in public schools.
“I am grateful to receive this award from the OSMA,” said Kearney. “From fighting childhood obesity to improving prevention and wellness insurance coverage, I have worked with the OSMA on many efforts to help improve the health and well-being of Ohioans, especially children.“
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The Voice of Medicine Award is presented to individuals outside of the health care profession for advancing the OSMA’s mission of improving the practice of medicine for physicians, their staff and patients.
The OSMA last presented the award to State Sen. Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati) and State Rep. Matt Huffman (R-Lima) in 2008 for their work on the Healthcare Simplification Act (H.B. 125). The legislation, signed into law in March 2008, mandates transparency and fairness in the contracting process between physicians and insurance providers.
About OSMA
The Ohio State Medical Association is a statewide association representing 20,000 Ohio physicians, residents, medical students and practice managers. It is dedicated to improving the practice of medicine for physicians, their staff and patients, by advocating their position, saving them time and money, and promoting the medical profession. The OSMA is affiliated with the American Medical Association on the national level and county medical societies on the local level.