Yesterday, LeadingAge Ohio staff attended the House Finance Committee meeting as Ohio Director of Medicaid Maureen Corcoran testified before the Committee. This marked the second day of testimony from agency leaders on the Governor’s SFY 2026-2027 biennial budget. Testimony covered significant ground, highlighting the Department’s continued commitment to Medicaid “Next Generation” which includes the OhioRISE program for multi-system youth, the progress on a single pharmacy benefits manager (PBM) for Medicaid beneficiaries, and the anticipated transition of the MyCare Ohio program.
Corcoran also confirmed questions previously asked of Director Murnieks, noting that the budget reflects continued funding of provider rate increases that were achieved in the previous budget. “In the last budget, the General Assembly passed historic rate increases for providers across the Medicaid program,” noted Corcoran, “Translating into an approximate $5.2 billion investment into our healthcare providers including approximately $2.3 billion in additional annual funding for nursing facilities, intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICF-IIDs), and across ODM, DODD, and ODA waiver systems. This additional funding was critical in stabilizing and enhancing the workforce during and after the pandemic.”
When asked what drove the increased spending in the second year of the biennium, Corcoran remarked that though caseloads will decrease, the individuals who will be served by the program are anticipated to have greater care needs, which will drive up monthly payments to managed care plans.
One highlight of the budget is the increase of the personal needs allowance (PNA) for individuals in nursing homes and waivers managed by the Department of Aging and the Department of Disabilities. The budget proposes the PNA increase from $50 per month to $100 per month. The last time the PNA was increased was 2015, when it climbed from $40 to $50 per month.
The Director is expected to testify again before the House Medicaid Committee, and the Director of Aging Ursel McElroy will testify before the House Children & Human Services Committee later in February. Following Director testimony, stakeholder testimony will be heard on each of the agency’s budgets.
Questions regarding the budget may be directed to Eli Faes, Director of Public Policy, at efaes@leadingageohio.org.