Kasich remains optimistic about Medicaid expansion deal

Gov. Kasich said this week that he would support a ballot initiative to expand Medicaid, although he is still holding out hope that the state legislature will pass an expansion bill first (Source: “Governor patient on Medicaid issue,” Toledo Blade, May 10, 2013).

While leadership in both the Ohio House and Senate have indicated that it is unlikely that expansion language will be reinserted into the state budget plan, both chambers are convening subcommittees to examine potential Medicaid reform that could include expanding eligibility.

Speaking at the first meeting Tuesday of The Healthier Ohio Working Group, the Ohio House subcommittee formed to discuss Medicaid reforms and possible options for expanding the program, the Governor’s Office of Health Transformation Diretor Greg Moody and Medicaid Director John McCarthy said reforms to Ohio’s Medicaid system in recent years have saved the state millions of dollars, but failing to expand the program could put that progress at risk (Source: "Officials: Medicaid reforms at risk if program isn't expanded," Cincinnati Enquirer, May 8, 2013).

Meanwhile, the Obama administration appears close to approving Arkansas-style Medicaid expansion in which at least a portion of the newly eligible Medicaid population would receive coverage through private plans on the health insurance exchange, an option that has been mentioned as a possibility in Ohio (Source: “Obama Administration Poised to Approve Arkansas-style Medicaid Expansions,” Pew Stateline, May 6, 2013).