[Ohio-talk] FW: Rally to Save Medicaid at the Ohio Statehouse - Ohio General Assembly wants to Freeze Medicaid Enrollments!

Mon Jul 3 00:54:12 UTC 2017

I  Just received this from the Autism Society of Ohio mailing list. This could have a huge impact on many blind people, particularly students in special education services who receive crucial school-based supports covered by Medicaid, etc. Is this an issue the Affiliate Legislative Committee is involved and / or is anyone from the Affiliate planning on attending this rally on Wednesday at the State Capitol? I do realize this is bad timing with National Convention, but this is a huge issue that I know National Office is working on at a federal level with the new health care bill.

Thanks,

Chris

From: bounce at autismohio.org [mailto:bounce at autismohio.org] On Behalf Of Autism Society of Ohio
Sent: Saturday, July 01, 2017 4:45 PM
To: onhconsulting
Subject: Rally to Save Medicaid at the Ohio Statehouse - Ohio General Assembly wants to Freeze Medicaid Enrollments!

  <http://www.autismohio.org/images/logo.png> 

This week, Ohio's legislature passed a budget bill that freezes enrollments in expanded Medicaid after July 1, 2018. The bill has been passed to Governor Kasich and he is expected to veto the language that freezes enrollments.  If that happens, the legislature may have the votes to override his veto and pass the enrollment freeze into law.  

Here's what you need to know and how you can help:

*	The Autism Society of Ohio and other ASA affiliates around the state have sent letters to the Governor encouraging his veto and to Senate President Obhof not pursue a veto override.
*	In addition to ending new enrollment, the freeze also precludes existing enrollees who temporarily cycle off of Medicaid from coming back on. This means once individuals cycle off for any reason(including seasonal work, paperwork, process, working more hours, briefly gaining other coverage etc.), they can no longer re-enroll under expansion even if eligible by today’s standards. Looking at experiences in other states, this could lead to over half of the current enrollees losing coverage in just the first year of implementation, and 72% of existing enrollees within 18 months – approximately 500,000 Ohioans!
*	The House has scheduled session for Thursday morning at 9:00am.  In order to show legislators how important this issue is, there will be a rally style event at the Statehouse on Wednesday, July 5, 2017.

Please join the Rally to Protect Medicaid on Wednesday, July 5th from 12:00pm - 1:00pm at the Ohio Statehouse.  Ohio's legislators need to know that they must not take health care away from hundreds of thousands of low-income Ohioans.  More details about the rally can be found on this flyer <http://autismakron.org/index.php?subid=4308&option=com_acymailing&ctrl=url&urlid=170&mailid=95> .  You can also visitwww.savemedicaidsavelives.com <http://autismakron.org/index.php?subid=4308&option=com_acymailing&ctrl=url&urlid=171&mailid=95>  or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/events/869012793247840/ <http://autismakron.org/index.php?subid=4308&option=com_acymailing&ctrl=url&urlid=172&mailid=95> . 

If you are unable to attend the rally, please continue to contact your state legislators <http://autismakron.org/index.php?subid=4308&option=com_acymailing&ctrl=url&urlid=173&mailid=95> .  It is important they hear from their constituents that freezing Medicaid enrollments will hurt people and is not the answer to their budget issues.  

What you should say:

Please vote NO if there is an override on the freeze of Medicaid Expansion enrollment, and rather, choose to protect coverage opportunities for Ohio’s most vulnerable - including individuals with autism.

Make your voice heard by state legislators one more time!

Information courtesy of the Ohio Medicaid Coalition, the ARC and the Ohio Provider Resource Association

Thank you!

Autism Society of Ohio is an affiliate of the Autism Society of America, the nation's leading grass roots autism organization.  The Autism Society exists to improve the lives of all affected by autism. We do this by increasing public awareness about the day-to-day issues faced by people with ASD, advocating for appropriate services across the life span, and providing the latest information regarding treatment, education, and advocacy.  ASO is a coalition of local Autism Society affiliates focusing on statewide advocacy and awareness and serving areas not covered by a local affiliate.

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