Medicaid expansion benefits hundreds of thousands
Posted August 21, 2018 in Press Releases
Assessment shows program stabilizes employment, families and health system
“Governor Kasich made a smart choice in expanding Medicaid in 2014, allowing hundreds of thousands to secure health care and lead healthier, more productive lives,” said Wendy Patton, Senior Project Director at Policy Matters Ohio, in response to a Kasich Administration evaluation of the program released today.
In 2014, Ohio extended health insurance through Medicaid to working-age adults of very low income. Under the Affordable Care Act, the federal government pays 93.5 percent of the cost of this program. The evaluation released today demonstrates how access to health care allows people to recover from acute and chronic health conditions, helping them work and stabilizing families. The health system expanded to meet demand as more people sought regular care for common, chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease and depression. Fewer people had to go to the emergency room for care, which means the health care system worked better overall.
“The new assessment confirms that Medicaid expansion ensures all Ohioans can have access to care, which has improved lives and strengthened Ohio’s overall health care system,” said Patton.
The Kasich Administration has also asked the federal government for permission to impose new eligibility requirements on Medicaid expansion enrollees. These would increase administrative complexity for patients and impose new costs on counties, which administer the Medicaid program. “New program rules that increase reporting requirements means hundreds of thousands could lose care,” said Patton. “It is critical to protect and build on the success of Ohio’s Medicaid expansion, without adding cumbersome new eligibility requirements.”
Download statementonmedicaidexpansionreview.pdf