Estimating Local Effects of Medicaid Expenditure Changes

A number of changes have been proposed by the Ohio governor and leaders in the state legislature to help slow the rate of growth of the Ohio’s Medicaid program over the two-year period beginning July 1, 2005. This report informs the debate through an analysis of the differential effects of these proposals on various Medicaid recipient groups. The report focuses both on overall effects of the budget proposals and explores implications of some of the specific proposals. Further, the report examines the impact of expenditure changes at the county level and displays this information in a series of maps. Some of the burden of any reductions in Medicaid expenditure growth will be assumed by the recipients and their families as well as by local governments, service providers, and local social service organizations. This analysis helps identify counties most at risk and provides some insight into how they will have to prepare for changes to come.Health Policy Institute of Ohio and The Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnat