The Ohio Academy of Family Physicians has been participating in the work of the Ohio Medicaid Coalition, particularly during the last six months. The following statement, made following the House’s decision to not vote on the veto override of the Medicaid expansion freeze, is attributed to the Ohio Medicaid Coalition:
“We are grateful to the Ohio House for pausing and listening to their constituents, including the hundreds of thousands of Ohioans relying on Medicaid expansion for their health care needs. We are pleased they chose not to take up an override on the veto of expansion freeze and hope members will continue to listen to the many voices Medicaid has helped. For many, Medicaid has been a life-saving program. Ohioans facing chronic physical and mental health diagnoses, as well as drug and alcohol addictions, can breathe a little easier knowing their care and treatment will not be taken away.
The data and individual stories show time and again that this coverage is crucial for hard working Ohioans to seek preventive and comprehensive care. While we are disappointed that the House saw fit to override the governor’s veto of the outdated Healthy Ohio plan and Controlling Board provision related to expansion, we are encouraged that they chose not to take up the veto of the expansion freeze. By giving individuals the tools to seek care early and preventing conditions from worsening, expansion improves the quality of life and keeps costs low for all Ohioans. We again are thankful for the preservation of health care coverage for 500,000 of our friends and families. “
The Ohio Medicaid Coalition originally formed in 2013 to support Governor John Kasich’s initial proposal to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The coalition is comprised of over 200 organizations, including physicians and other health care professionals, payers, consumer advocates, members of the business community, and others. In 2017, the coalition is focused on the goal of retaining coverage for the 700,000+ Ohioans who have obtained coverage under the Medicaid expansion provisions of the ACA.