Following bipartisan passage of Senate Bill 315, House Medicaid Committee Chair Rep. Jennifer Gross (R-West Chester) said lawmakers are already considering additional Medicaid program integrity measures. The bill, which began as part of House Bill 795 before being incorporated into SB 315, was narrowed before passage after several provisions drew public concern or required further review. SB 315 passed the House 85-10 and received unanimous Senate concurrence before heading to Gov. Mike DeWine for consideration.
Gross identified several areas lawmakers may revisit, including foreign remittances tied to Medicaid funds, possible whistleblower compensation, an artificial intelligence pilot to detect fraud patterns, and federal sponsor repayment provisions for certain public assistance costs. Rep. Mike Dovilla, R-Berea, said he would first like to review the results of a Medicaid audit required in the state operating budget and see how SB 315 is implemented before pursuing next steps. The audit is expected to provide more information on the scope of fraud in the Aged, Blind, or Disabled portion of Medicaid, though final results may not be available until early 2027. Advocates and Democratic lawmakers who supported the final bill also raised concerns about the speed of the process and the need to rebuild trust with people with disabilities, families, and providers affected by earlier versions of the proposal.
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