Governor should include Medicaid expansion in state budget

To the editor:

As Governor Kasich and the state Legislature consider whether to open the door to Medicaid coverage through expansion, I hope they consider analysis recently released by a non-partisan collaboration of researchers from the Health Policy Institute of Ohio, The Ohio State University and others. 

The study confirmed that expansion will mean health care coverage from more than 450,000 currently uninsured Ohioans and will actually save the state money.
 
On a daily basis, Community Health Centers like HealthSource of Ohio see the tremendous need for greater health care coverage. 

Expanded Medicaid eligibility levels are directly associated with our ability to invest in capacity, increase access to care and better meet the needs of patients and our community. 
 
Bottom line, moving uninsured Ohioans onto Medicaid, into medical homes and out of emergency rooms for primary care will save lives, improve health outcomes and reduce costs. 

I urge Governor Kasich to include Medicaid expansion in his budget, and ask the General Assembly to embrace its fundamental human and economic benefits.
 
Sincerely,
Pat Hays
Board Member
HealthSource of Ohio