News Releases

Ryan Delivers Testimony on Medicaid Reauthorization to Cleveland City Council

The Center for Health Affairs provided testimony on Medicaid reauthorization to the Cleveland City Council with advocates from the Northeast Ohio healthcare community on Monday, March 30. Bill Ryan, president and CEO of The Center for Health Affairs, participated in a discussion led by Councilman Joe Cimperman highlighting the financial and economic benefits of reauthorizing expanded Medicaid coverage, as well as the impact on the region’s uninsured population.

Also appearing in front of the Health and Human Services Committee were representatives from the Center for Community Solutions, MetroHealth System, Cuyahoga County Job and Family Services, the Cleveland Department of Public Health and the Cuyahoga Health Access Partnership. Each representative provided testimony on Medicaid and underscored the important changes that have been seen in the region and across the state since implementing expansion.

Providing testimony on Medicaid reauthorization is part of The Center’s 2015 advocacy agenda and its Strategic Direction. While continued Medicaid expansion was included in Governor Kasich’s Biennium Budget, a final decision on whether or not to continue this program is still in the hands of the Ohio General Assembly. In the past, the Health and Human Services Committee has used public testimony to educate the public and legislators on the virtues of the expanded program, and the most recent hearing was no different in its scope and effectiveness. For more information on this topic, please contact Tony Gutowski, public policy development manager, at 216.255.3610 or via email.