Ted Strickland sent a letter today to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Andy Slavitt detailing concerns he has with proposed changes to Ohio’s Medicaid program that could result in prohibitive costs and loss of coverage to Ohio Medicaid recipients. The full text of the letter is below.

[Read the full text of the proposal here]

The Honorable Andy Slavitt
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Department of Health and Human Services
Hubert Humphrey Building
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20201

May 3, 2016

Dear Administrator Slavitt:

I write to you today to express my concerns about a recent proposal that would create a severe cost barrier for Ohio Medicaid recipients and likely cause many individuals to drop their coverage.

This proposal would make it more difficult for those who need healthcare the most to acquire it. By erecting barriers to individuals receiving healthcare, it could reverse the gains in coverage made by the Affordable Care Act and send individuals back to the emergency room to seek care. This proposal has the potential to hurt over a million Ohioans and increase the cost of our healthcare system for every Ohioan.

The Medicaid program is designed specifically to help those who need access to healthcare the most. These proposed changes are unnecessary and would hurt Ohioans over the long term. I strongly urge you to examine the lasting effects this proposal would have on individuals receiving Medicaid in Ohio and to reject Governor Kasich’s application for federal approval.

Sincerely,

Ted Strickland
Ohio’s 68th Governor