This is a message from the Autism Society of Greater Akron. I’m simply helping to spread the word, and drum up support. Please take a second and read this, especially if you’re in Ohio.. I fully support the Autism Society.. When they speak, we need to listen.
This week, Ohio’s legislature passed a budget bill that freezes enrollments in expanded Medicaid after July 1, 2018. The bill has been passed to Governor Kasich and he is expected to veto the language that freezes enrollments. If that happens, the legislature may have the votes to override his veto and pass the enrollment freeze into law.
Here’s what you need to know and how you can help:
- The Autism Society of Ohio and other ASA affiliates around the state have sent letters to the Governor encouraging his veto and to Senate President Obhof not pursue a veto override.
- In addition to ending new enrollment, the freeze also precludes existing enrollees who temporarily cycle off of Medicaid from coming back on. This means once individuals cycle off for any reason (including seasonal work, paperwork, process, working more hours, briefly gaining other coverage etc.),they can no longer re-enroll under expansion even if eligible by today’s standards. Looking at experiences in other states, this could lead to over half of the current enrollees losing coverage in just the first year of implementation, and 72% of existing enrollees within 18 months – approximately 500,000 Ohioans!
- The House has scheduled session for Thursday morning at 9:00am. In order to show legislators how important this issue is, there will be a rally style event at the Statehouse on Wednesday, July 5, 2017.
Please join the Rally to Protect Medicaid on Wednesday, July 5th from 12:00pm – 1:00pm at the Ohio Statehouse. Ohio’s legislators need to know that they must not take health care away from hundreds of thousands of low-income Ohioans. More details about the rally can be found on this flyer. You can also visitwww.savemedicaidsavelives.com or on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/events/869012793247840/.
If you are unable to attend the rally, please continue to contact your state legislators. It is important they hear from their constituents that freezing Medicaid enrollments will hurt people and is not the answer to their budget issues.
What you should say:
Please vote NO if there is an override on the freeze of Medicaid Expansion enrollment, and rather, choose to protect coverage opportunities for Ohio’s most vulnerable – including individuals with autism.
Make your voice heard by state legislators one more time!
Information courtesy of the Ohio Medicaid Coalition, the ARC and the Ohio Provider Resource Association
Thank you,
Laurie Cramer
Executive Director
