May 23, 2013: Medicaid Reform Legislation (HB 176) Introduced in the House

State Representative Barbara Sears (R- Monclova Township) introduced legislation that requires the Director of Medical Assistance to implement Medicaid reforms which will identify ways to lower costs, reduce uncompensated care, and extend coverage to Ohio's most vulnerable citizens.

The legislation would extend coverage to Ohioans under 138% of the federal poverty level and will provide critical health care services to Ohio's poorest citizens. New enrollees in the Medicaid program will be fully-funded by the federal government for the first three years. The bill provides protections for Ohio should the federal assistance percentage decrease below the specified amount after the third year.

Additional provisions of this legislation include encouraging personal responsibility through cost sharing, promoting employment-related services, and ensuring those who abuse narcotics receive proper treatment.

The bill also includes requiring the Medicaid director to present a report to the General Assembly on the progress being made and specifies that the Joint Legislative Committee on Medicaid Technology and Reform consider and review the reforms implemented by this legislation.

Call Key Senate Leaders:

• Senate President Keith Faber - 614-466-7584
• Senate Pro Tempore Chris Widener - 614-466-3780
• Senate Finance Chair Scott Oelslager - 614-466-0626
• Senate Finance Medicaid Sub. Com. Chair Dave Burke - 614-466-804
• Your Senator (Click here to find his/her #) Click here for a list of state senators from the Cleveland Diocese with all contact information.

Use this sample script:

"Don't delay extending health coverage. There's no time to waste when $2 billion in state revenue, 25,000+ new jobs, and health coverage for 275,000 Ohioans with low income, mental health, and addiction needs are on the line".

For a complete list of representatives to the General Assembly from the Diocese of Cleveland, click  here.

TAKE ACTION NOW: Contact Senators Brown and Portman today and urge them to:

• Support a fair Farm Bill and amendments to programs that help feed hungry people at home and overseas, help rural communities thrive and encourage stewardship of creation;
• Oppose harmful amendments, cuts or structural changes to programs that help people and communities in need; and
• Urge your Senators to fix Amendment #1056 sponsored by Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) that bars for life people who have ever been convicted of certain violent crimes from receiving SNAP benefits. The impact of this amendment undermines restorative and rehabilitative justice and would lower SNAP benefits for their children and other family members in their care. Because of U.S. incarceration patterns, it would also have skewed racial impacts.

CURRENT SITUATION: The Senate has reconvened to continue consideration of the 2013 Farm Bill with final votes expected soon. The Senate's plan currently includes more than $4 billion in cuts to the SNAP program and more than $5 billion in cuts to conservation programs. It also ends some subsidies (direct payments), which is a step in the right direction. The Senate recently adopted a harmful amendment (Vitter #1056) which will negatively impact persons who have ever been convicted of certain violent crimes and have paid their debt to society by denying them access to SNAP benefits for life and reducing benefit levels for their children and family members. The Senate must fix this amendment before a final vote on the Farm Bill. 

The Catholic community, led by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA), and the National Catholic Rural Life Conference (NCRLC) and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SSVDP)support important provisions in the 2013 Farm Bill that save lives, lift people out of poverty and promote environmental stewardship. The bishops acknowledge that reducing future unsustainable deficits is important but remind Congress that their decisions are not just economic in nature but are "political and moral choices with human consequences." However, at a time of continued unemployment and high levels of poverty, the Senate should oppose cuts to effective anti-hunger programs that help people live in dignity and strengthen and support programs that help conserve our land and resources for future generations.

The Catholic community also urges further reductions in subsidies and reforms to crop insurance subsidies so that small and medium-sized farmers and ranchers who truly need assistance, especially minority owned farms, are supported rather than larger growers and industrial agriculture. Savings from cuts to subsidies should be used to support hunger and nutrition programs that feed hungry, poor and vulnerable people at home and abroad.

USCCB POSITION/CHURCH TEACHING:  Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI stated that "Liberation from the yoke of hunger is the first concrete expression of the right to life." The U.S. bishops and their Catholic partners also remind Congress that food is a fundamental human right. For more information about our position, read their recent letter to Congress. Visit the USCCB website for more information, updates and alerts on the Farm Bill.

The USCCB and other Catholic organizations also recently joined with an additional 100 organizations, urging Congress to support and protect the SNAP program from cuts and changes that would harm vulnerable and hungry people in need. You can read the letter by clicking here.

 Take Action: Send a message to Members of Congress.You can also contact Capitol Hill by calling 1-866-596-7030.