REQUIREMENTS
working. And most of those who are not would be exempt from the requirement, he said.
“The data show clearly that (those not working are) a lot of folks over age 55 or folks with chronic conditions and not affected by work requirements,” he said.
The remaining 5 percent — about 36,000 enrollees — will need to find a job or face loss of coverage.
Critics slammed the plan, arguing that it would take health care away from vulnerable Ohioans.
“This would take Ohio in the wrong direction by making it a state with even greater health problems and health disparities,” said Steve Wagner, executive director of UHCAN Ohio, which advocates accessible, affordable health care. “Many people would be unable to keep their health care because of bureaucratic red tape.”
Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, executive director of the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, said similar work requirements for food stamps have done little to help people find employment.
“Instead, nearly 350,000 fewer Ohioans are receiving food stamps today. Yet hunger and food insecurity have increased in this population, and demand for emergency food assistance at food banks, food pantries and soup kitchens has skyrocketed,” she said. “How can anyone focus on work if they’re hungry and in poor health?”
At the direction of the Republican-controlled legislature, Ohio will be the 12th state to seek to impose the controversial work policy. President Donald Trump’s administration has given the OK to two states —Kentucky and Indiana — so far.
Ohio’s request will be submitted to the U.S. Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services for approval, following a required 30-day public comment period that
will end March 18. Public hearings will be conducted this Wednesday in Cincinnati and March 1 in Columbus.
Under the plan, the roughly 700,000 adults who gained coverage under Ohio’s 2014 expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act would be required to work at least 20 hours a week or show they are looking for a job, attending school or in job training.
New enrollees would have to meet the requirement to receive benefits; current enrollees must do so during their annual eligibility review.
As prescribed by lawmakers, the state would exempt those who are older than 55, in treatment for drug or alcohol addiction, have intensive health-care needs or serious mental illness, as well as parents and caretakers.
“I think it’s fair,” Moody said. “We tried not to be punitive.”
According to a notice released Friday about the waiver request, expenditures for Medicaid expansion enrollees would drop a projected $30 million the first year after work requirements are imposed.
Medicaid is a tax-funded, health-insurance program covering 3 million poor and disabled Ohioans, with federal dollars covering more than 90 percent for the expansion of health care.
Lingering opposition from conservatives over expanding coverage to those adults ages 19 to 64 without dependent children prompted majority Republicans to direct the Kasich administration to seek the federal OK to impose work requirements.
Also Friday, the Ohio Department of Insurance announced that it will seek permission from federal regulators to waive the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate that required most Americans to have health insurance.
Department of Insurance Director Jillian Froment said there would be no impact on consumers because the tax bill that was passed in December by Congress eliminated the tax penalties charged to those who failed to get health insurance. Ohio is merely asking for the actual requirement to be removed as well, she said.