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Kidney Dialysis Amendment Could Be On November Ballot

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A group that wants a constitutional amendment to change some regulatons on how Ohio kidney dialysis patients receive treatment submitted signatures to be on the fall ballot yesterday. But the proposal is already facing opposition.

Activists, including public union members, say the amendment would improve patient care. The measure would require stricter regulation of clinics providing those services and would limit the amount they can charge patients. But Gene Pierce, spokesman for a group of clinics and medical professionals that will oppose the plan, says it could hurt dialysis patients.

“This is an out of state, cookie cutter, special interest group that are trying the same thing in California this year. They want to put it on the Ohio ballot as well but they really haven’t done their research as to what Ohio needs.”

Activists backing the Kidney Dialysis Patient Protection Amendment started gathering signatures in February and submitted 170,000 more signatures than they would need to get their issue certified for the fall ballot.

Copyright 2018 The Statehouse News Bureau

Jo Ingles is a professional journalist who covers politics and Ohio government for the Ohio Public Radio and Television for the Ohio Public Radio and Television Statehouse News Bureau. She reports on issues of importance to Ohioans including education, legislation, politics, and life and death issues such as capital punishment.