In the new Ohio 2-year budget, the Ohio legislature proposes to create a new health care program for most people on Medicaid. It is called “Healthy Ohio,” but names can be deceiving.  If approved, Healthy Ohio will restrict access to health care for many thousands of low income adults.

The good news is that the federal government must give Ohio permission to make such radical changes in Medicaid, and public input matters.

Under the proposal, all non-disabled adults over age 18 with incomes up to 138% of the poverty level will be required to enroll in “Healthy Ohio” if they are on Medicaid.

How Healthy Ohio would change health care:

What’s Wrong with “Healthy Ohio?” 

Healthy Ohio will lead to poorer health for Ohioans on Medicaid.  So many people will lose coverage that the state will estimate the cost of the program based on the assumption that many Ohioans will lose their Medicaid.  That’s because studies show that requiring even small contributions prevent low income people from accessing health care. Many people will lose coverage and seek care – often in emergency departments – only when they are sicker and more expensive to treat.

Healthy Ohio is complicated:

1. The health savings account and point system is difficult to understand and use.
2. Healthy Ohio uses debit “swipe” cards that are expensive to set up and operate.
3. Patients could wait weeks or months between application and coverage.

Healthy Ohio is a Big Waste of Taxpayer Money. Setting up and operating the debit card and point system will cost millions of dollars that could be spent more wisely. 

What’s Next? The Ohio Department of Medicaid is responsible for applying to the federal government – Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services – for permission to change the way Ohio operates Medicaid now. 

Two Important Opportunities to Weigh In On Proposed Changes to Ohio Medicaid: People concerned about changes to Ohio’s Medicaid program have two chances to express their concerns and ask regulators to reject Ohio’s request.

1. State Comment Period (later this fall or winter) before the Department of Medicaid submits its application; and 
2. Federal Comment Period once the application is submitted the federal government.

Bottom line:  Ohio’s current expanded Medicaid program is working well. It has made health care a reality for hundreds of thousands of low income Ohioans. Ohio Medicaid helps Ohioans get and keep employment, stabilizes their families, and helps them stay healthy. Making it harder for Medicaid enrollees to get the health care they need will take us in the wrong direction.

If you want to have an information session on “Healthy Ohio,” contact Kelsey Raines at UHCAN Ohio.