Health law to boost Ohio Medicaid costs
Written by Associated Press | | news@toledofreepress.comAn expansion of Medicaid that’s part of the Obama health care law will boost the program’s cost to Ohio taxpayers by $1.45 billion over five years, according to projections provided to the Columbus Dispatch by the administration of Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland.
Republicans say the state already is struggling to afford Medicaid coverage for the poor and disabled and wonder how it can afford to pay more.
Under President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul, states will be required to widen Medicaid eligibility in 2014 so that the program covers people with incomes up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level, or about $29,327 a year for a family of four. Also, coverage will be extended to childless adults for the first time. Ohio officials have estimated that the expansion will add 554,000 people to the state’s Medicaid rolls.
Figures supplied by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to The Columbus Dispatc and to The Associated Press show that during the first five years the broadening of Medicaid will cost the state annual amounts ranging from $136 million to about $333 million, for a total of $1.45 billion from 2014-2019.
The department’s projections also showed that the federal government would pick up $16.9 billion in additional Ohio Medicaid costs over a six-year period beginning in 2013. So, the state is getting a bargain, argued Strickland spokeswoman Amanda Wurst, adding that having more Ohioans insured will lead to overall health care savings.
But Republicans remain concerned about Medicaid’s potential increased hit to Ohio taxpayers.
“It’s already bringing us underwater today,” said Republican state Rep. Jay Hottinger of Newark. “Whatever the cost is going to be, no matter what the feds are going to pay, it is that much more of a burden on our budget.”
Hottinger and House Republican leaders did not immediately return messages for further comment Friday.
The estimates are “rough” and the state’s price tag could change, based on the economy and other factors, department spokesman Benjamin Johnson said Friday. For example, lower unemployment could mean fewer people on Medicaid and more Ohioans insured through employers, he said.
Tags: Health Care, Obama, State of Ohio
Medical doctors are dropping patients on Medicare/ Medicaid , like hot rocks !
In 2004, 6% of M.D.’s, didn’t take these patients.
In 2008, 8% of M.D.’s, ” “.
In 2010, 13% of M.D.’s, won’t take them !
Why do work that you are not paid for !
Another unintended consequence of socialized medicine…cutbacks for the elderly/ needy and pain pills for the rest .
REMEMBER: Work harder and send more money to OweBaMao, he needs your money more than you ever will !!
This comment was posted on June 22nd, 2010 at 10:02 amDUPED SUCKERS !!
Here we go again. According to the spokeswoman for the State, we are going to save money by spending over a BILLION dollars. That money has to come from somewhere, and so does the $17B that is coming from the Feds. Taxes are going higher and so are premiums for everyone else.
This is like ‘saving’ $10,000 on the price of a new Ferrari. After the purchase, I do not have $10,000 in my bank account, I am still out the $90,000 for the cost of the car. The ‘savings’ are imaginary.
This comment was posted on June 22nd, 2010 at 10:06 amBy definition, widening Medicaid eligibility and covering more people is going to increase costs over providing less to fewer people. However, a point of the reforms is to resolve the inequities in access to health care and to limit the financial vulnerabilities that those who become sick will face. The federal government is asking the states to take a more active role in guaranteeing the health of all their citizens and providing funds to do so, so the debate is really over whether people support equal health care access to all.
This comment was posted on June 22nd, 2010 at 4:30 pmThe Federal Government already insures 55 % of all American’s via, Medicare, Medicaid, the V.A.,and assorted Indian welfare plans.
This comment was posted on June 22nd, 2010 at 9:13 pmAnyone , who actually believes that “access”, isn’t there is insane.
Plus, all of the aforementioned programs are replete with fraud and utter mismanagement, typical of government beaurocracies.
Market forces are corrupted by OwebaMao’s / Demonrats ,techno/academic/healthcare nightmare.
Like any other budget item , the numbers for the future are frightening and woefully inaccurate !
Besides, name one Federal, State, or any other program that is efficient.It’s all about control, control, and more government control !
Still, you gotta love OweBaMao’s , fines and prison time for failure to buy into this madness.
Saul Alynski, is soooo proud of his community organizer as he shovels coal in furnace like conditions.