Last fall, Ohio became the 25th state to file a state plan amendment to extend Medicaid benefits to approximately 275,000 Ohioans who previously were not eligible for the program. In doing so, Ohio also agreed to accept an additional $2.5 billion in federal Medicaid payments. The Kasich administration believes the move will improve Medicaid and lower the rate of increase in costs to 3.3 percent annually from almost 9 percent a year before Kasich took office. Before the expansion, about 2.4 million Ohioans relied on Medicaid for healthcare.

From January 1 through February, 54,031 Ohioans, or roughly 15 percent of the 366,000 people the state projected would be newly eligible through June of 2015 have gained access to the program.

Lori Herf, senior government relations advisor in BakerHostetler’s Columbus office, continues to be involved in the legislative and rule-making process and discussions with senior members of the Kasich administration as Ohio implements its changes to the Ohio Medicaid program.