Data Graphics

Data included in HPIO’s “Ohio Medicaid Basics 2025” shows that most Ohioans have employer sponsored health coverage, as illustrated above.

Many Ohioans who have low incomes enroll in Medicaid, the second-most common source for coverage in Ohio, because other health insurance coverage is unavailable, too expensive or does not provide coverage for needed services, such as long-term services and supports.

Published every other year since 2005, to coincide with the biennial budget process, Ohio Medicaid Basics provides an overview of the Ohio Medicaid program, including eligibility, covered services, spending and recent policy changes. 

As Ohio policymakers consider discontinuation of Medicaid expansion coverage if the federal government reduces funding for this group, HPIO is planning to release findings from a comprehensive, data-driven study to describe how the 2014 Medicaid expansion impacted coverage, access and affordability and estimate the future impacts of discontinuing coverage for the expansion population.

HPIO’s recently released Policy Considerations: The Future of Group VIII (expansion) Medicaid Coverage in Ohio brief contains general information and considerations about Medicaid expansion coverage as policymakers consider the future of the program.

April is Alcohol Awareness Month and data shows that alcohol-involved deaths have nearly doubled in Ohio over the past decade, as illustrated above.

Alcohol use is influenced by many factors, including stress, trauma, mental health challenges and experiences of discrimination. However, alcohol use can worsen symptoms of mental health conditions over time and lead to other health challenges.

A 2023 HPIO data snapshot found that since 2007, deaths among working-age Ohioans due to chronic liver disease and cirrhosis -- deaths that are directly related to alcohol consumption -- increased by 72% and is the sixth leading cause of death among Ohioans ages 15 to 64.

According to HPIO’s 2024 Health Value Dashboard, Ohio ranks 34th compared to other states and D.C. on excessive drinking, meaning Ohio is worse than most other states.

The CDC has developed a self-screening tool that allows users to gauge their alcohol use and create a personalized plan to drink less.

April is Minority Health Month and data included in HPIO’s 2024 Health Value Dashboard shows that if disparities were eliminated in Ohio, 62,760 fewer Black Ohioans and 37,695 fewer Hispanic Ohioans would be unable to see a doctor due to cost.

Overall, Ohio is in the top quarter of states for adults’ ability to afford needed healthcare, but racial disparities persist. As illustrated above, Hispanic Ohioans and Black Ohioans reported going without care because of cost at much higher rates than the state overall.

HPIO’s Health Value Dashboard includes equity profiles that explore gaps in outcomes among groups of Ohioans and analyze the barriers to health that contribute to these gaps. The profiles also include calculations for how many Ohioans would benefit if disparities were eliminated.

The Health Policy Institute of Ohio has released a new publication titled “State Policy Roadmap: Leveraging Medicaid to Support Housing and Nutrition in Ohio.”

This Roadmap reflects insights on funding housing and nutrition services through Medicaid from HPIO’s Health-Related Social Needs (HRSN) Workgroup, a group of organizations and associations from across the state representing sectors such as housing and nutrition service providers, care coordinators, community health centers, health systems, Medicaid managed care organizations and philanthropy.

The workgroup’s recommendations build upon the strengths of Ohio’s health and human services landscape to maximize the impact of Medicaid.

Policymakers and stakeholders across Ohio are considering ways to support the health and well-being of workers and families while reducing healthcare costs.

As illustrated above, research consistently finds that spending on food and housing interventions has a large return on investment (ROI). Research also shows that investing in social needs services — such as housing, nutrition and care coordination — can improve health, enhance workforce stability and lead to more efficient Medicaid spending.

States have flexibility to fund these critical services through Medicaid, as outlined in HPIO’s report, “Leveraging Medicaid to Support Housing and Nutrition in Ohio.” This State Policy Roadmap builds on that information and outlines actionable next steps for policymakers and other state leaders to leverage these opportunities effectively.

As Ohio and federal policymakers consider the future of expanded Medicaid eligibility, a new illustration from HPIO shows examples of the types of jobs with average pay that would currently make Ohioans eligible for Medicaid under expansion.

The graphic is included in HPIO’s recently released brief “Policy Considerations: The Future of Group VIII (expansion) Medicaid Coverage in Ohio.”

As the U.S. Congress deliberates plans to reduce federal spending, including proposals to drastically cut funding for Medicaid, Gov. Mike DeWine included in his state budget proposal a provision that if the federal share of Medicaid funding is reduced, the Ohio Department of Medicaid “shall immediately discontinue all medical assistance for members of the [Medicaid expansion] group.”

This would drastically reduce access to health care for hundreds of thousands of Ohioans, most of whom are employed. In 2018, Medicaid reported that 94% of Group VIII enrollees were either employed, in school, taking care of family members (such as children or grandchildren), participating in an alcohol and drug treatment program or dealing with intensive physical health and/or a mental health illness.

The income eligibility limit for Medicaid enrollees is set as a percentage of FPL, as displayed to the right. FPL thresholds are based on household Modified Adjusted Gross Income, and are determined monthly. The illustration above shows examples

Learn more about Medicaid in Ohio by viewing HPIO’s recently released Ohio Medicaid Basics 2025.

Data included in a recent HPIO data snapshot shows that a federal expansion of the child tax credit (CTC) led to a sharp drop in child poverty, as illustrated above.

HPIO released last week a new data snapshot highlighting Effects of the Child Tax Credit on poverty, health and well-being. This data snapshot highlights the potential impact of increased, refundable child tax credits.

Tax policies are powerful tools for reducing poverty, promoting financial security and improving population health. The 2021 American Rescue Plan Act both increased the amount of the federal Child Tax Credit (CTC) and made it fully refundable. The expansion expired at the end of 2021, returning the credit amount to pre-pandemic levels.

Gov. Mike DeWine’s biennial budget proposal calls for a refundable $1,000 CTC for eligible families with children 6 years old and under, funded by an increase in cigarette tax revenue.

The federal CTC expansion led to a drop in national child poverty by 55% in 2021, with deep poverty (income less than half of the federal poverty level) and extreme poverty (living on $2 or less a day per person) effectively eliminated. After the expansion expired in January 2022, child poverty spiked by 41% nationally. Census data also shows a drop in child poverty rates in Ohio during 2021.

The publication page also includes a link to download the graphics from the snapshot to use in your work or to share on social media.