Ohio Medicaid has no immediate plans for federal block grant

Medicaid Director Maureen Corcoran says Ohio has no plan to take up an offer by President Donald Trump’s administration that would give states greater flexibility in Medicaid spending in exchange for limits on how much the federal government contributes (Source: “Ohio won’t seek federal block grant for Medicaid, for now,” Columbus Dispatch, Feb. 12, 2020).

Corcoran told The (Columbus) Dispatch on Wednesday that while she appreciates the option, Republican Gov. Mike DeWine has other priorities and she will not seek such block-grant funding, at least not now.

“It’s a welcomed additional tool and flexibility, and at the same time I appreciate the support and cooperation and assistance of the (Trump) administration as we’re pursuing what the governor has laid out,” she said.

The proposal, outlined last week by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, gives states the option to apply for a federal waiver to change the way a portion of Medicaid is paid. Instead of paying a share of Medicaid expenses, the federal government would give states a block grant -- a predetermined fixed amount. In exchange, states would have the ability to limit benefits and drug coverage, charge co-pays and impose work requirements.