Hawken Parent Makes a Difference for Ohioans with Diabetes

Diane B. Weiner, mother of Andrew `08, Jess `11, and Michael `05, is helping to make a difference in the crusade against diabetes. She is an advocate for the Diabetes Cost Reduction Act (DCRA)/Senate Bill 113 in Ohio. Senate Bill 113, re-introduced in March 2005 by Senator Jeff Armbruster, seeks to ensure that people with diabetes who purchase health insurance in Ohio are guaranteed coverage for their basic life sustaining diabetes needs, including diabetes education, equipment, and supplies. For every $1 spent covering people with diabetes, $3 will be saved in health care costs for diabetes-related complications. For the first time in four years the Ohio Senate scheduled a legislative hearing for the Diabetes Cost Reduction Act (DCRA)/Senate Bill 113. The bill has passed during the past 18 years in 46 other states, but after 12 years continues to languish in the Ohio State Legislature. Weiner attended the hearing and Rally/Media Event on September 13 in Columbus. Over 700,000 people in Ohio, including 45,000 children, have diabetes with almost 12,000 dying as a result of diabetes complications. Please help Weiner and those with diabetes by contacting state legislators and urging them to support this important legislation and thank them if they are voting for it. You can locate their phone numbers and email addresses at www.legislature.state.oh.us.