Our 2024-25 State Budget Priorities

Medicaid

• We support moving to continuous Medicaid coverage for children up to six years old.
• We support increasing general Medicaid eligibility up to 300% of the federal poverty line for families and children.

Health and Human Services Safety Net

• We will seek to create a student loan ombudsman at the state level to help students and Ohioans with student debt to navigate the complex system upon graduation and support workforce retention.
• We will monitor impacts on families and children and identify ways to mitigate harm due to changes in SNAP and Medicaid.

Behavioral Health

• We continue to support the full implementation of OhioRISE, Ohio Medicaid’s program that provides comprehensive care for children with complex needs or multi-system youth.
• We are seeking additional funding dedicated to harm reduction in the existing line item at the Ohio Department of Health. including syringe services programs, naloxone distribution, and fentanyl test strips.

Older Adults

• We will monitor the implementation of the PACE expansion and ensure it is reaching those most in need of services.
• We will work to further increase support for adult protective services, especially in light of increased social isolation as a result of the pandemic.

Women’s and Children’s Health

• We seek Medicaid reimbursement for doula services and certification of midwives to practice in Ohio, consistent with Governor DeWine’s commitment to making Ohio the most family-friendly state.
• We are also committed to improving access to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) in Ohio.