Testimony Before the Ohio Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR) — October 15, 2018
Testimony Before the Ohio Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR)
Opponent testimony on O.A.C. 5160-1-17.8 — Protecting Ohio’s behavioral health workforce during the fentanyl crisis.
The Proposed Rule
Ohio Administrative Code 5160-1-17.8, proposed by the Ohio Department of Medicaid, addressed provider eligibility and disqualifying offenses. If enacted in its proposed form and left in effect through 2022, the rule would have prevented many experienced behavioral health professionals from continuing to work in the field—including those with lived experience of addiction and recovery.
Opponent Testimony — Scott Beach
On October 15, 2018, Scott Beach was called by Chairman Uecker to offer opponent testimony before the Ohio Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review.
“Mr. Beach stated he and many of his colleagues would be unable to continue working in the field if the proposed rule is in effect until the year 2022. There were no questions for the witness.”
— Official JCARR Meeting Minutes, October 15, 2018
The Fentanyl Crisis and Rural Ohio
Mr. Beach contextualized his remarks within the broader national fentanyl crisis and its devastating impact on rural Ohio communities. In January 2018, while signing federal legislation aimed at combating synthetic opioids, President Trump stated:
“It’s reaching every corner of our great nation and it shouldn’t be. Rural areas like Hancock County, Ohio.”
— President Donald J. Trump, January 2018, opioid legislation signing event
The Human Cost of the Proposed Rule
Mr. Beach emphasized “Hancock County is not an abstract statistic. It is the community where my colleagues and I live and work. Our children attend school there. It is the community we serve every day.”
— Official JCARR Meeting Minutes, October 15, 2018
During the hearing, Mr. Beach pointed to colleagues present in the room.
“The professionals sitting behind me all work in Hancock County. This proposed rule would remove from the field the very people who are present at this hearing today, individuals actively serving the community devastated by the opioid and fentanyl epidemic mentioned by President Trump. In an area that needs these people and the services they provide. This isn’t limited to Hancock county, it would strip needed professionals from all counties in Ohio.”
— Official JCARR Meeting Minutes, October 15, 2018
The concern was clear: At a time when Ohio was losing lives to fentanyl at an unprecedented rate, a Medicaid rule was poised to strip the workforce of the experienced professionals communities needed most—many of whom brought the unique perspective of lived experience in addiction and recovery.
Broader Stakeholder Context
The testimony was part of broader stakeholder input before JCARR concerning:
- Workforce sustainability in Ohio’s behavioral health system
- Certificate of Qualification for Employment (CQE) provisions and their role in supporting second-chance employment
- Maintaining access to behavioral health services in communities already underserved and overburdened by the addiction crisis
Sources
- Ohio Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review, Meeting Minutes, October 15, 2018, reviewing O.A.C. 5160-1-17.8 (Ohio Department of Medicaid)
- Public remarks by President Donald J. Trump, January 2018, opioid legislation signing event referencing Hancock County, Ohio
Scott Beach is Co-Founder of Red Door Recovery Network. He brings years of clinical leadership and systems development experience to the fight for accessible, stigma-free behavioral health care across Ohio and beyond. Read Scott’s Full Bio
More Recovery Resources from Red Door
- Community Meetings Directory — Find AA, NA, SMART Recovery, Al-Anon, and Celebrate Recovery meetings
- Meetings Blog — Articles about recovery meetings and what to expect
- Peer Support Specialists — Connect with certified recovery coaches
- Harm Reduction Agencies — Naloxone, needle exchange, and overdose prevention
- Food Pantries — Free food assistance for those in need