Catholic Conference of Ohio
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Thursday, June 11, 2026

Health Affairs - Catholic Conference of Ohio

Mission Statement

We are the people of Catholic health care, a ministry of the church continuing Jesus' mission of love and healing today. As provider, employer, advocate, citizen — bringing together people of diverse faiths and backgrounds — our ministry is an enduring sign of health care rooted in our belief that every person is a treasure, every life a sacred gift, every human being a unity of body, mind, and spirit.

We work to bring alive the Gospel vision of justice and peace. We answer God's call to foster healing, act with compassion, and promote wellness for all persons and communities, with special attention to our neighbors who are poor, underserved, and most vulnerable. By our service, we strive to transform hurt into hope.

As the church's ministry of health care, we commit to:

  • Promote and Defend Human Dignity
  • Attend to the Whole Person
  • Care for Poor and Vulnerable Persons
  • Promote the Common Good
  • Act on Behalf of Justice
  • Steward Resources
  • Act in Communion with the Church

 

Ohio Resources

EasyDNNNews

CCO Submitted Interested Party Testimony on HB 795

The Catholic Conference of Ohio submitted interested party testimony on HB 795, urging the House Medicaid Committee not to reverse the years-long policy of supporting family caregivers, and instead to seek targeted, proportional means to address bad actors committing fraud and abuse. CCO wrote, "Many family members forego other employment opportunities and struggle to make ends meet as they selflessly work to sustain the lives of their loved ones in need of this [life-sustaining] assistance. This is a clear, pro-family policy for those who need it most. [Family members] receiving payments for essential care should not lose the small benefits they receive because of bad actors who must be held accountable."

UPDATE: HB 795 has been amended to remove the ban on family members' ability to be paid by Medicaid for providing personal care services to relatives. We are grateful for this revision. 

Read the full testimony >

CCO Testified in Support of the Patient Protection Act

The Catholic Conference of Ohio testified in front of the Senate Health Committee in support of House Bill 324 (R-A. Mathews | R-Craig), the Patient Protection Act. The bill previously passed the House. CCO stated, "HB 324 employs reasonable safeguards on the dispensing of medications known to cause serious adverse effects by requiring that patients be assessed and fully informed as to the associated risks in order to be free to consent to a recommended course of treatment." Due regard for the dignity of human life and the integral good of each person warrants more prudent and humane measures when dispensing pharmaceuticals with a higher rate of adverse effects.

Read the full testimony >

Ohio House Passes CCO-Support HB 347, SHE WINS Act

Catholic Conference of Ohio-supported House Bill 347 (R-Odioso | R-Williams) to enact the Share the Health and Empower With Informed Notices (SHE WINS) Act regarding abortion informed consent passed the Ohio House of Representatives. HB 347 requires a physician to meet with a woman at least 24 hours before an abortion and provide information on alternatives, the availability of medical assistance benefits that may be available for prenatal, birth, and postpartum care, and ensures that she is fully informed about the nature of the procedure, any associated risks, and receives information on the status of any risks associated with her pregnancy. The bill now goes to the Ohio Senate for consideration.

Department Cabinet Members

Department on Health Affairs Chairperson

John Starcher,Jr. : President and CEO of Mercy Health 

Department on Health Affairs "Kitchen Cabinet"

On January 14, 2010, presidents of member hospitals and chief executive officers of healthcare systems determined that the Catholic Conference of Ohio's Department on Health Affairs would sharpen its mission to focus on the hospitals as Catholic institutions.  They appointed a “kitchen cabinet” of system/hospital staff to meet regularly with staff of the Catholic Conference on matters of mutual concern.

Cabinet members include:

Jon Fishpaw (Convenor)
Vice President of Advocacy and Government Relations
Mercy Health Partners

Heather Stoll
Vice President, External Affairs
Sisters of Charity Health System

 

Cabinet Members (Continued)

Jason Koma
Director of External Affairs
Mount Carmel Health System
 

Scott McConnaha
Vice President, Mission Effectiveness
Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity
(Genesis HealthCare, Zanesville)


Brian Hickey
Executive Director, Catholic Conference of Ohio