Ohio’s Healthy Ohio 1115 Waiver and ABD Eligibility Changes Reviewed

This week, our In Focus section reviews two updates out of Ohio. The first is a Section 1115 Medicaid waiver, to be known as Healthy Ohio, which would implement a modified health savings account model for adult Medicaid beneficiaries in the state with the exception of individuals who are aged, blind, or have disabilities. Healthy Ohio also proposes a voluntary employment support program, as well as encourages transition to private insurance coverage, including a transitional spending account for enrollees shifting from Medicaid to the private market. Ohio’s Medicaid agency estimates potential savings of nearly $1 billion from the program over a five year period. The second update relates to the planned transition to a single eligibility determination for individuals with disabilities and mental illness, eliminating the need for both Supplemental Security Income (SSI) eligibility determinations and Medicaid eligibility determinations. The state estimates that as a result more than 400,000 Ohioans will convert to full Medicaid without spend down requirements in July 2016, pending State Plan Amendment approval.

Every Wednesday, HMA publishes the Weekly Roundup, an information-packed resource that will keep you updated on industry news, trends in state health policy throughout the nation, and more.