The Center for Health Affairs Applauds the State of Ohio Controlling Board for Voting 5-2 to Expand Medicaid
Cleveland, Ohio (PRWEB) October 24, 2013 -- Late yesterday the State of Ohio Controlling Board voted by a 5 to 2 majority to take advantage of federal money to expand Medicaid to approximately 275,000 low-income Ohioans with coverage slated to begin January 1, 2014. Ohio is now the 25th state to vote for an expansion of the Medicaid program. While lawsuits are likely to ensue challenging the authority of the State of Ohio Controlling Board to authorize this expansion of the state’s Medicaid program, the Controlling Board's vote marks a huge victory for supporters of Medicaid expansion.
The implications of the decision by the State of Ohio Controlling Board for hospitals, patients and other key stakeholders cannot be overstated. For hospital providers, the ruling by the State of Ohio Controlling Board means they will now be reimbursed by Medicaid for many of the healthcare services they already provide to this population of patients. For consumers, it means that many of our most vulnerable citizens will now have access to a complete package of preventive and emergency healthcare services.
For more on this topic, including quick facts and details of The Center's advocacy work in this area, visit The Center's Ohio Medicaid issue site.
Stay tuned for The Center’s upcoming November policy snapshot that will provide a more detailed analysis of how the Controlling Board’s decision impacts hospitals, patients and other stakeholders. For those interested in learning more about the reform law, please visit The Center’s federal healthcare reform issue site.
If you have any questions about Medicaid expansion or the Controlling Board’s latest vote, contact Deanna Moore at 216.255.3614 or via email or Tony Gutowski at 216.255.3610 or via email.
Deanna Moore, The Center for Health Affairs, http://www.chanet.org, +1 216.255.3614, [email protected]
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