Ohio’s infant mortality rate is one of the worst in the nation. Atask forcethat’s been looking at how to improve that has released a list of 56 recommendations.
Statehouse correspondent Karen Kasler reports they include a few that might be problematic to some state lawmakers.
Among the recommendations – boosting funds to health programs, allowing pharmacists to administer injectable birth control, banning the sale of crib bumpers, and hiking the tax on cigarettes.
Sen. Shannon Jones, aSpringboroRepublican, said the proposed tax hike comes fromGov. JohnKasich’sbudget last year, which showed a $600 cost per Medicaid recipient was related to smoking.
“So if we can deal with the smoking issue, there is nothing that would have a more dramatic impact on the costs of Medicaid,” Jones said.
The recommendations also include banning the sale of tobacco products to anyone under 21.
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