Greg Browning: Update on the Ohio Commission to Reform Medicaid; Greg Moody: Administrative Update on Health Care in the State Budget
February 24, 2004 – Columbus

The February 24, 2004 meeting of Ohio Advocates for Healthcare Access took place in the Riffe Center in Columbus.

The meeting began with a discussion of potential topics for future OAHCA gatherings. Jenny Camper reviewed results of a recent informal survey of OAHCA partners. For future meeting topics, top survey responses included:

• Medicaid
• Communication with key legislators and administrative officials
• Prescription drugs
• Healthcare access for special populations
• Non-profit management issues
• Best Practices of health care access in other states or cities
• Medical Liability
• Mental Health issues

As OAHCA future meetings are planned, the topics listed above will continue to be given top consideration. We also will always plan to invite a key legislator(s) or administration official(s) for a portion of each meeting. Other ideas, such as more information on HIPAA waivers were suggested as potential agenda items.

Several members provided helpful feedback on upcoming topics along with suggestions for speakers. In addition, suggestions were made to invite additional organizations and foundation groups as OAHCA members. These include organizations such as children’s advocacy groups that include access to healthcare as part of their mission.

Greg Browning, member of Ohio Commission to Reform Medicaid
Greg Browning is a member of a study commission currently examining Ohio’s Medicaid system. They are expected to provide a report to Governor Taft. Greg spoke to OAHCA partners about the process of the Commission’s work to gather and analyze information.

The Commission is charged with looking at the policy, structure, efficiency and effectiveness of the Medicaid system. They also will look at Medicaid’s federal and state components.

So far, the Commission has had two meetings. The Commission members are:

• John Begala, Executive Director, Federation for Community Planning
• Richard Browdie, President & CEO, Benjamin Rose Institute
  Walter J. Clark, Jr. M.D., Medical Director, Northeast Ohio Neighborhood Health Services
• Roger R. Geiger, State Director, National Federation for Independent Business - Ohio
• Noreen J. Hayes, Senior Vice President, Western & Southern Financial Group
• Kathy Tefft-Keller, State Director, AARP Ohio
• R. Gregory Browning, President, Capital Partners
• Bernadine P. Healy, M.D., Commission Chair, Health & Medicine Senior Writer, U.S. News and World Report
• David L. Brennan, Commission Vice Chair, Brennan Industrial Group, Inc.
• Jennifer Carlson, Commission Executive Director

The Commission is currently developing questions and a number of themes relating to the Medicaid system. The themes will help to guide their research and analysis. The Commission will hear testimony from interested parties and a Web site is currently being designed.

Greg strongly suggested that anyone interested in providing testimony or information should call Jen Carlson at 614-752-6238, to inquire about getting on an agenda and to start a dialogue with the Commission.

Greg took a number of questions from OAHCA members including a discussion of the Commission’s ability to address to prevention issues in healthcare.

Greg Moody – Executive Assistant for Health and Human Services for Governor Taft
Greg has served a number of years with the administration, including four months as interim director for the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Greg serves as a liaison for Governor Taft to six state agencies that focus on human services and health.

Greg discussed the updated Ohio Access report which will be released in the coming months. He said the administration would like to release their plans for the 2006-2007 state budget earlier so that discussion and feedback can take place well before budget deadlines. Greg said the Ohio Access updated report will focus on prioritizing resources and will particularly emphasize the needs of people with disabilities and children. He said that because 75 percent of Medicaid costs are long-term care, the report will examine the costs of institutional care, versus care in a home or community setting. He discussed challenges with the federal government and the realities of state funding constraints.

Several OAHCA members had questions for Greg. These included how the system will adjust over time for the aging population, the potential impact of losing the penny tax increase, and possible restructuring of the tax code.

The OAHCA meeting ended with an update on the penny tax repeal effort.

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	Greg Browning speaks to OAHCA members about the Commission to Reform Medicaid
	Greg Moody discusses the administration's initial plans for health care budgeting in 2006-2007