The Autism DadHB 581
Regards specified Medicaid disability, Ohio WorkAbility Programs
Here is what HB 581 does, in plain language, and the lawmakers deciding it right now. Read it, then make your voice heard in about five minutes.
The basics
✓ Reviewed by The Autism Dad, June 8, 2026
This Ohio bill changes how the state counts income when deciding if someone can join the Medicaid Buy-In for Workers with Disabilities program, which lets people with disabilities work while keeping Medicaid coverage. Right now, only earned income (money from a job) can be set aside when checking eligibility. This bill would allow up to $20,000 of earned income, unearned income (such as Social Security benefits or investment income), or a mix of both to be disregarded when the state checks whether someone's income is low enough to qualify.
The bill also keeps two existing rules in place: the state will not count money an employer pays for a family member's health insurance as the worker's income, and the state can still set aside additional amounts through its administrative rules. The goal is to make it easier for more people with disabilities who are working to qualify for the program by giving them a broader income disregard.
What this could mean for your familyThe concerns being raised
The concerns being raised
- The concern being raised is that allowing unearned income, such as Social Security disability payments, to count toward the $20,000 disregard could reduce the benefit for people who have both unearned and earned income compared to a structure that treats those categories separately.
- The concern being raised is that the $20,000 cap on combined income disregards may still leave out workers with disabilities who have higher levels of unearned income and modest wages, limiting how much the expanded eligibility actually helps.
- The concern being raised is that because the bill leaves additional disregard amounts to administrative rules under section 5163.098, future changes to those rules could quietly reduce eligibility without going back through the legislature.
- The concern being raised is that the bill does not address the asset or resource limits that also affect eligibility for the program, so some people who would benefit from the expanded income disregard may still be screened out on other grounds.
In The News/Updates
The state doesn't update its public site in real time, so official information from the legislature can be delayed. Here's what's being reported in the media.
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Take action in 5 minutes
These are starting drafts. Read them, make them yours, and double-check before you send or call. You're the one speaking. The bill summary is AI-assisted, so verify anything important against the bill itself.
Email the committee
It's ready. Copy it, or open it in your email app with everyone already in the BCC.
Your email
Dear Legislator, I'm an Ohio constituent and I'm writing about HB 581, Regards specified Medicaid disability, Ohio WorkAbility Programs. I'm following this bill closely. As the Medicaid Committee considers it, I want to be sure the concerns families like mine are raising are heard. [Add a sentence or two about why this matters to your family.] We are paying attention, we vote, and in November we will not forget how you voted on this. Thank you for your time, [Your name] [Your street address] [City], OH [ZIP] [Your email or phone]
Subject
Constituent message about HB 581, Regards specified Medicaid disability, Ohio WorkAbility ProgramsSend to (paste into BCC)
rep27@ohiohouse.gov, rep85@ohiohouse.gov, rep77@ohiohouse.gov, rep17@ohiohouse.gov, rep96@ohiohouse.gov, rep45@ohiohouse.gov, rep34@ohiohouse.gov, rep70@ohiohouse.gov, rep11@ohiohouse.gov, rep47@ohiohouse.gov, rep48@ohiohouse.gov, rep31@ohiohouse.gov, rep08@ohiohouse.gov, rep93@ohiohouse.gov, rep12@ohiohouse.gov, rep16@ohiohouse.gov, rep38@ohiohouse.gov, rep44@ohiohouse.govFills the [brackets] in the email and call script. These fields stay in your browser and are never sent to us. The email above updates as you type.
Start with the leadership
These 3 decide whether HB 581 gets a vote or a substitute.
The Chair, Vice Chair, and Ranking Member control scheduling and what the committee votes on. Start here, then reach the rest below.
Who you are contacting
Everyone on the committee is included by default. Open this only if you want to leave someone out.
Call (it counts even more)
Use the script. Start with the leaders.
Phone script
Hi, my name is [your name] and I'm a constituent. I'm calling about HB 581 (Regards specified Medicaid disability, Ohio WorkAbility Programs). I want to make sure you hear the concerns families are raising about it as it moves through committee. Thank you.
Call list (leaders first)
Ranking Member, Rachel B. Baker (D-27): (614) 644-6886
Vice Chair, Tim Barhorst (R-85): (614) 466-1507
Chair, Jennifer Gross (R-45): (614) 466-8550
Meredith Craig (R-77): (614) 466-1474
Michael D. Dovilla (R-17): (614) 466-4895
Ron Ferguson (R-96): (614) 466-3735
Derrick Hall (D-34): (614) 466-1177
Brian Lampton (R-70)
Crystal Lett (D-11): (614) 644-6030
Diane Mullins (R-47): (614) 644-6721
Scott Oelslager (R-48): (614) 752-2438
Bill Roemer (R-31): (614) 644-5085
Anita Somani (D-8): (614) 466-5358
Jason Stephens (R-93): (614) 466-1366
Brian Stewart (R-12): (614) 466-1464
Bride Rose Sweeney (D-16): (614) 466-3350
Desiree Tims (D-38): (614) 466-1607
Josh Williams (R-44): (614) 466-1418Also contact your own reps
Your own legislators weigh constituents most. Add them without leaving this page.
Your address is used once to find your districts and is not stored. It goes to the U.S. Census geocoder to match your address to a district.
Spread the word
Post it and tag other Ohio parents.
Facebook / social post
OHIO FAMILIES: HB 581 (Regards specified Medicaid disability, Ohio WorkAbility Programs) is in the Medicaid Committee. These are the lawmakers deciding it right now. Make sure they hear from you.
START WITH THESE:
Ranking Member, Rachel B. Baker (D-27): (614) 644-6886
Vice Chair, Tim Barhorst (R-85): (614) 466-1507
Chair, Jennifer Gross (R-45): (614) 466-8550
THEN CALL THE REST:
Meredith Craig (R-77): (614) 466-1474
Michael D. Dovilla (R-17): (614) 466-4895
Ron Ferguson (R-96): (614) 466-3735
Derrick Hall (D-34): (614) 466-1177
Brian Lampton (R-70)
Crystal Lett (D-11): (614) 644-6030
Diane Mullins (R-47): (614) 644-6721
Scott Oelslager (R-48): (614) 752-2438
Bill Roemer (R-31): (614) 644-5085
Anita Somani (D-8): (614) 466-5358
Jason Stephens (R-93): (614) 466-1366
Brian Stewart (R-12): (614) 466-1464
Bride Rose Sweeney (D-16): (614) 466-3350
Desiree Tims (D-38): (614) 466-1607
Josh Williams (R-44): (614) 466-1418
No time to call them all? Call three. Then share this and tag every Ohio parent you know.
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