The Ohio Department of Medicaid is finalizing plans to eliminate spend-down and redesign disability determinations. The Governor’s Office of Health Transformation published a white paper that discusses the plans in detail. UHCAN Ohio outlined some of the changes in our March newsletter. Spend-down will be eliminated, and qualifying for Medicaid will mean meeting the income limits. Ohio Department of Medicaid will provide different transitions for people depending on their situation, so it is important to watch for communications from the Ohio Department of Medicaid.

It is important that people who could have met spend-down to qualify for Medicaid (but did not do so) consider whether they could meet spend-down before the end of June. This applies to people who are 65 or older, have a disability, or are blind. Those who could meet the spend-down requirement before June should make sure to apply to Medicaid. Successfully qualifying for Medicaid reimbursement through spend-down, even for just one month, will help to provide you with benefits after July 1, 2016. If you can meet Medicaid spend-down but are not currently enrolled in Medicaid, contact your county Department of Jobs and Family Services or call the Ohio Department of Medicaid consumer hotline at 1-800-324-8680.