Advocates for Ohio’s Future acknowledges and is thankful for Senator Brown and Senator Portman’s swift actions to provide federal funding directed to human services in the first stimulus packages during the initial stages of the nation’s public health crisis. However, additional funds are needed to address the staggering basic needs of Ohioans who are struggling afford health care coverage, feed their families and pay their rents and mortgages as a result of the pandemic.
Over a dozen AOF member organizations representing health and human services, consumers advocacy, behavioral health, anti-hunger and philanthropy, along with more from The Ohio Medicaid Works Coalition, called on Senators Brown and Portman today to elevate our state’s greatest resource—our people—by supporting a temporary increase in federal funding for Medicaid to stem the economic and health impact of the Coronavirus in the next relief package.
Supporting a temporary increase in the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for Ohioans will:
Accelerate economic recovery and help get families back on their feet: Increasing FMAP is one of the most effective tools in providing resources to states and has been proven to mute recessions and enable job creation both inside and outside of healthcare. More than 1.3 million Ohioans lost not only their jobs due to the pandemic, but also health insurance for themselves and their families. Allowing these individuals and their families to access health care through Medicaid during their job search will support and bolster them on their path back to self-sufficiency.
Ensuring access to robust health care, behavioral health and substance use disorder services through Medicaid will also help struggling providers as many patients delayed, postponed or sacrificed care during the initial stage of the pandemic.
Boost our challenged state budget: Additional federal resources help states handle increases in caseloads without needing to cut services, eligibility or other priorities like education. The Ohio Department of Medicaid anticipates 750,000 to 1 million Ohioans will become newly enrolled in Medicaid by December 2020. Medicaid Director Maureen Corcoran has already cited the possibility of cuts to optional services and provider types, provider rate changes, additional utilization management and new limits on services for adults due to restricted budget forecasts. Temporary enhanced FMAP will help stabilize the state budget and ensure that our most vulnerable have access to the care they need.
Protect our most vulnerable: The elderly and disabled are not only more susceptible to harm from the virus, but are also the most likely to be impacted by cuts to Medicaid. Half of all Medicaid spending goes to Aged, Blind and Disabled populations. Since Medicaid expansion is already mostly federal, state cuts could only come from these groups. Better access to Medicaid has been shown to reduce inequities in coverage and improve health. Long before the COVID-19 pandemic, communities of color in Ohio experienced poorer health outcomes, including high rates of diabetes, hypertension and heart disease—conditions research indicates may increase vulnerability to severe COVID-related symptoms. Strengthening Medicaid will help improve health outcomes and reduce disparities across the state.
It will take many months, if not years, for our economy to recover to previous levels—considering too many families were on the brink before the pandemic. A temporary increase in the FMAP that lasts the duration of the economic recovery—not just the public health crisis—will do more to support our state’s recovery and empower our citizens to help themselves as soon as it is deemed safe.