News Releases

Advocacy Forum Convenes to Discuss Medicaid Enrollment

Members of The Center’s Advocacy Forum met on Dec. 9 to discuss the new enrollment process for Medicaid in Ohio. This extended group included Joe Gauntner from the Cuyahoga County office of Job and Family Services and Patrick Beatty from the Ohio Department of Medicaid, who discussed the new enrollment process from both the county and state perspective and answered questions from the group. In addition to advocates from member hospitals, representatives from Human Arc and the Cleveland Foodbank also attended the meeting. The group discussed the changing eligibility and determination system for Medicaid enrollment given the Controlling Board’s decision to accept federal dollars to expand the state’s Medicaid program. 

The meeting, led by Deanna Moore, provided an opportunity for county and state officials to summarize system renovations made in preparation for the debut of the state’s insurance Marketplace. Members of the Advocacy Forum were able to ask specific enrollment questions pertaining to the state’s Medicaid program, which is set to begin covering additional Ohioans on January 1, 2014. This meeting was part of an ongoing effort to ensure that member hospitals have the information they need to operate in a new Medicaid enrollment environment. Enrollment for the newly eligible began on Dec. 9, earlier than was initially planned.

The Center’s Advocacy Forum meets on a regular basis to discuss current and relevant topics that are impacting member hospitals. For more information on the Advocacy Forum, please contact Deanna Moore via email or at 216.255.3614.