Ohio Counseling Conversations

Couch to Capitol: October Legislative Updates

• Ohio Counseling Association

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We unpack how the federal shutdown, expired telehealth waivers, and looming SNAP delays intersect with daily counseling practice in Ohio, then analyze state bills that could reshape access and privacy. We close with clear actions to protect clients, support communities, and engage policymakers.

• impact of the federal shutdown on counseling care
• expiration of Medicaid and Medicare telehealth waivers and exceptions
• immediate steps for clients facing SNAP disruptions
• HB 502 to backfill SNAP, WIC and TANF shortfalls
• HB 162 and risks to minors’ confidentiality
• HB 324 and threats to medication access and equity
• practical advocacy targets and talking points
• resources for contacting CMS and Ohio committees

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If you have any questions, want to get involved, or have additional information, connect with us through our social media or in the link in our show notes

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Created by the OCA's Media, Public Relations, and Membership (MPRM) Committee & its Podcast Subcommittee

·Hosted by Mariah Payne

·Pre-Production & Coordination by Marisa Cargill, Victoria Frazier, Mariah Payne, and Leah Wood

·Editing by Marisa Cargill


SPEAKER_00:

Welcome to Ohio Counsel Conversations How to Decapital Your Quick Connection from the Counseling Office to where laws meet lies. In this segment, we break down the latest legislative and judicial updates, policy changes, and advocacy efforts that impact counselors across Ohio. Whether you're licensed, in training, or just passionate about the field of counseling, we've got what you need to stay informed and empowered.

SPEAKER_01:

Welcome back to the Couch to Capital on Ohio Counseling Conversations, where we bridge the gap between your clinical couch and the halls of Ohio State House and beyond. I'm Mariah Payne, and each month it's our goal to bring you the most relevant legislative updates impacting counselors, clients, and the mental health profession across our state. In today's episode, I will provide you with information about the government shutdown, telehealth Medicaid coverage, Ohio SNAP benefits, important state bills, and ways to support our communities. Let's begin with the national events to be aware of. As of October 1st, 2025, the U.S. government is in shutdown. A government shutdown happens when the federal spending bills are unable to be passed or signed. This creates a gap in funding and can cause government functions to be temporarily disrupted. Congress can pass continuing resolutions to provide funding during negotiations. In September, Couch to Capital reported on Congress considering a stopgap measure that would have extended federal funding past September 30th. While this measure included a relevant extension for telehealth coverage, unfortunately, the U.S. Senate did not pass this measure. As a result, the Medicaid and Medicare telehealth waivers developed during the pandemic have expired. Starting on the 1st of this month, Medicaid coverage has now reverted to policies existing prior to quarantine, effectively limiting what services can be provided virtually. It is important to note that there are exceptions for mental health services, substance abuse disorder treatment, and physicians participating in certain rural Medicaid programs. On October 15th, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services clarified that physicians may continue to provide and bill for services that are impacted by the expired provisions. However, these claims will be placed on a payment hold and are not guaranteed payment. Impacted physicians should weigh their risks alongside ethical responsibilities. They may choose to reschedule or to convert to in-person care when possible. As mental health professionals, it is our responsibility to advocate for improved access to services and the removal of barriers. I encourage you to reach out to your Congress members and request that they support telehealth flexibilities in future legislation. Be sure to share how this affects your practice, community, and clients. We have included relevant links to Ohio representatives, senators, as well as resources from the National Board of Certified Counselors and American Counseling Association in today's show notes. Additionally, the Center for Medicaid Services suggests that those with Medicaid payment issues contact their Center for Economic Services. We've included their contact information in the show notes as well. This shutdown may also impact the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program known as SNAP. This program is a monthly form of government assistance that helps households buy food and necessities. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services advised that SNAP recipients may not receive their November benefits as normally scheduled if the federal government remains in shutdown. While food banks have remained open, many are urging their supporters to help out however they can as resources are limited. In response, helping professionals should consider bolstering their resources they share with clients to include food banks, mutual aid groups, and if possible, local community fridges. During sessions, it may be appropriate to review a client's local resources, develop a concrete plan, validate their emotional experiences, and hold space for their responses to systemic harms. Outside of sessions, counselors can contribute to food banks, amplify voices of those impacted, document the harm in our communities, and advocate for change. Without congressional action and long-term protections, underserved communities face increased barriers to care, reduced financial security, and increased food scarcity. Thankfully, some Ohio legislators are working to close the resource gap for Ohioans. On October 7th, House Bill 502 was introduced into the Ohio House Committee. House Bill 502 is a bill that would allow Ohio to use funds from our rainy day fund to backfill any federal shortfalls in SNAP, WIC, and temporary aid to needy families or TANAF. All three of these programs provide dollars to support food banks and low-income families. I encourage you to reach out to the House Agricultural Committee to share how these protections are essential to the security of Ohioans. I've included more information about House Bill 502, contacting the House Committee as well as sites to search for local food bank locations in today's show notes. Now we will take a look at a few other bills relevant to Ohio's mental health professionals. The first is House Bill 162, known as the ENACT the My Child, My Chart Act. House Bill 162 would change privacy rules regarding minors receiving help without parental consent when they're experiencing a crisis. Under section 5122.04 of the Ohio Revised Code, minors 14 years and older can voluntarily seek and consent to outpatient mental health services without parental consent for a short period of time. This law strikes a careful balance. It ensures young people in crisis can reach out when they're afraid while still requiring eventual parental involvement. House Bill 162 would require providers who use an electronic health record system to ensure that a child's parent or guardian can access the minor's records to the fullest extent allowed by HIPAA and existing laws. Furthermore, House Bill 162 could ban providers from requiring that child's authorization or assent before the guardian accesses their records. Healthcare providers would also be required to annually inform guardians of the services that their child is able to receive without that guardian's consent. This includes services such as blood donations, emergency services for survivors of assault, abortions, HIV testing or treatment, substance use treatment, and some outpatient services. Healthcare providers would also be required to annually inform guardians of the services their child is able to receive without that guardian's consent. This includes services such as blood donations, emergency services for survivors of assault, abortions, HIV testing or treatment, substance use treatment, and some outpatient services. If the child gives their assent, House Bill 162 would enshrine this as blanket consent for past, current, and future records from that provider, potentially including services that a child receives without their parents' consent. It's possible that this may not apply in emergency care settings where future services are not reasonably expected. House Bill 162 was referred to the Senate Health Committee on October 22nd after passing through the Ohio House of Representatives. If HB 162 passes, the My Child My Chart Act would create confusion regarding parental access to their child's health information. It also carries the risk that a child might provide consent at a young age and not realize that their parents retain access to these records until they are an adult. Overall, best practices for maintaining a minor's records include keeping them as private as possible and protecting the minor's autonomy as much as possible. It is our ethical responsibility to protect the confidentiality of information received in any medium in the counseling relationship. Instead of simply improving communication between parents and providers, House Bill 162 puts our most vulnerable children at risk. Now is a great time to speak with the Ohio Senate Health Committee and tell them why it is important to stop House Bill 162 from moving forward. As mentioned earlier, our show notes include links to your Ohio Senators and advocacy resources for counselors. The next piece of legislation we will discuss is House Bill 324, which appears to be moving through Ohio's legislature. Titled Enact the Patient Protection Act, House Bill 324 had opponent testimony in the Ohio House Health Committee on October 8th. HB 324 could create unnecessary barriers in accessing medications like Muffapristone, a commonly used abortion medication. This bill is being reviewed in committee despite voters protecting abortion and reproductive rights in the Ohio Constitution in 2023. If passed, House Bill 324 would require Ohio's Department of Health to establish if a medication has severe side effects for greater than 5% of recipients, and then bar pharmacies or retailers from distributing these medications. According to the bill, severe adverse reactions include death, hospitalization due to infection or hemorrhage, organ failure or sepsis. While this bill does not directly mention muphapristone, some supporters have directly connected their support to the implications that HB 324 would have on abortion pills. The abortion drug Muphapristone has been approved as safe and effective by the FDA for 25 years since September 2000. Those who testified against House Bill 324 noted flawed research at the foundation of this bill's development, the direct conflict with the Ohio Reproductive Freedom Amendment, increased health care workload, and reduced access to medically necessary medications. This piece of legislation is relevant to mental health and helping professionals as it directly threatens the bodily autonomy, mental well-being, and medical equity of Ohioans. HB 324 could cause harm by spreading misinformation about approved medications, increased liability risks for prescribers, and decrease access to medically necessary treatment. In the Ohio Nurses Association's testimony, they succinctly summarized why helping professionals oppose House Bill 324 by stating it is a sweeping non-clinical policy that would undermine access to medically necessary treatment, overburden ARPNs and nurses, and make patients sicker. For these reasons, we respectfully ask the committee to reject HB 324. The implications of House Bill 324 directly conflict with multiple guiding principles for counselors, physicians, and other medical professionals. Since the review committee has recently conducted opponent testimony, it is possible that the committee may reach a decision soon. This is an appropriate moment to contact the Ohio House Health Committee and share the impacts that this piece of legislation could have. Request that the Ohio House Health Committee reject House Bill 324. Thank you for your time in learning more about the government shutdown, disruptions to benefits, and legislation being considered in the Ohio State Capitol. The House Health Committee and the Senate Health Committee are each considering bills that could significantly impact Ohio's health professions. Advocates can contact representatives on these committees and request that they not report favorably on House Bill 324 and House Bill 162. Given the challenges associated with the federal shutdown, it is important for counselors and mental health providers to stay informed on federal resolutions. Once again, the Center for Medicaid Services has encouraged physicians experiencing Medicare payment delays or other issues to contact their Center for Economic Services. Their contact information, along with additional resources and information, can be found in today's episode's show notes. I hope that with this time we have started to bridge the gap between your clinical couch and the halls of our capitals. Don't forget to subscribe for monthly updates. If you have any questions, want to get involved, or have additional information, connect with us through our social media or in the link in our show notes.

SPEAKER_00:

That's it for this edition of Couch to Capital, brought to you by the Ohio Counseling Association and Ohio Counseling Conversations. In the meantime, stay tuned, stay engaged, and keep advocating for the future of counsel in Ohio. Because what happens at the Capitol doesn't stay at the Capitol, it impacts every counseling conversation.