(Ohio) – House Bill 11 is a bipartisan effort to reduce infant mortality and improve the health of mothers and children across the state.

The bill unanimously passed the Ohio Senate on Wednesday and is now heading to Governor Mike DeWine’s desk. If passed, the bill would expand tobacco cessation programs and increase lead education. The bill would also support group prenatal health care programs. The goal of those focus areas, according to officials, is to result in decreasing the chances of infant illness or death while also improving the health of mothers.

Additionally, with the Governor’s okay, the bill would reduce the state share of Medicaid spending dollars while also increasing the federal share of Medicaid dollars. Ohioans would be able to utilize the state share savings to help balance the budget.