Medicaid enrollment, costs for Ohio expected to see large increase
By
-
New estimates show Ohio's Medicaid enrollment will increase by about 970,000 and cost the state an additional $2.3 billion, according to a report in Business Week.
A new federal health care law will increase enrollment in 2014 to except families of four with a total annual income of $30,843 or less. The figure represents 138 percent of the poverty level for a family of four, which stands at $22,350.
The Ohio Office of Health Transformation says the Medicaid program funded by state and federal dollars provides health coverage to about 2.2 million people, mostly the disabled, seniors and low-income families with children. That number is expected to increase to 3.1 million people in three years.
"Estimates show the program's total annual cost for the fiscal year ending in July is about $18 billion, including both state and federal funds. Costs are expected to increase to about $20 billion in two years," Business Week reported.
***
• In other state budget news, the Ohio Division of Natural Areas and Preserves may be eliminated if state lawmakers approve the last in a series of cuts that began two years ago.
The division is situated within the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and oversees 28,000 acres in 135 preserves that are refuges for plants and wildlife, according to The Columbus Dispatch.
The division oversees several nature areas in Adams County, including Davis Memorial, Adams Lake Prairie and Johnson Ridge.
"Budget cuts in 2009 reduced the staff to 10 employees. Gov. John Kasich's proposed two-year budget would eliminate the division and send those workers to the Division of State Parks," the newspaper said.[[In-content Ad]]
A new federal health care law will increase enrollment in 2014 to except families of four with a total annual income of $30,843 or less. The figure represents 138 percent of the poverty level for a family of four, which stands at $22,350.
The Ohio Office of Health Transformation says the Medicaid program funded by state and federal dollars provides health coverage to about 2.2 million people, mostly the disabled, seniors and low-income families with children. That number is expected to increase to 3.1 million people in three years.
"Estimates show the program's total annual cost for the fiscal year ending in July is about $18 billion, including both state and federal funds. Costs are expected to increase to about $20 billion in two years," Business Week reported.
***
• In other state budget news, the Ohio Division of Natural Areas and Preserves may be eliminated if state lawmakers approve the last in a series of cuts that began two years ago.
The division is situated within the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and oversees 28,000 acres in 135 preserves that are refuges for plants and wildlife, according to The Columbus Dispatch.
The division oversees several nature areas in Adams County, including Davis Memorial, Adams Lake Prairie and Johnson Ridge.
"Budget cuts in 2009 reduced the staff to 10 employees. Gov. John Kasich's proposed two-year budget would eliminate the division and send those workers to the Division of State Parks," the newspaper said.[[In-content Ad]]