Beatty, Kaptur, Fudge, and Ryan Urge Ohio Gov. DeWine to Reject Trump Administration's Medicaid Block Grant Proposal

Press Release

Yesterday, U.S. Representatives Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11), and Tim Ryan (OH-13) sent a letter urging Ohio Governor Mike DeWine to reject Medicaid block grants for the State of Ohio. On January 30, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released a plan, entitled "Healthy Adult Opportunity," encouraging states to fund Medicaid through block grants.

In their letter to DeWine, the Members noted research "indicates instituting a per capita cap for Medicaid in Ohio would likely increase the state's financial risk, decrease its authority over program design, reduce access to services, eliminate long-standing oversight protections, and encourage institutionalization of older adults."

Pointing to the Administration's repeated efforts to cut Medicaid, the Members added, "the plan to allow state Medicaid block grants further demonstrates the Administration's clear commitment to gutting social service programs and access to health care for our most vulnerable."

The Members urged DeWine to "support Ohio's Medicaid expansion population and reject proposals aimed at weakening this critical, life-saving program."