Ohio Senate Begins Hearings on State Budget

The Ohio Senate began hearings, April 23, for its version of the state budget after receiving a House-passed blueprint that stripped Medicaid expansion from Gov. John Kasich’s original proposal.

The Ohio Osteopathic Association is a member of the Ohio Alliance for Health Transformation, which consists of more than 75 organizations that support the Governor’s proposal to cover 275,000 additional Ohioans and bring billions of tax revenue dollars to the state of Ohio at the same time.

Alliance members urged House Republicans to reinstate Medicaid expansion last week by holding rallies at the Statehouse and contacting legislators.  Supporters of the Medicaid expansion  were encouraged when the chamber voted at the last minute to include language that keeps the door open for further discussion.

Kasich’s office issued a statement expressing approval that the “House backed away from its initial position and has listened to the Governor and many, many others who have clearly demonstrated the advantages to businesses, Ohio’s economic recovery, and the health of our state by providing health care to low-income, working Ohioans.”

The campaign to convince lawmakers in the Senate will be an uphill battle, since Senate President Keith Faber (R-Celina) announced, April 24, he will not pursue Medicaid expansion in the budget. For complete information about why the OOA supports the Governor’s proposal, visit the Alliance’s website at http://ohiomedicaidalliance.org .