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Bill Ryan Authors PD Guest Column on Why Medicaid Expansion Has Been Good for Ohio

On Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015, The Center for Health Affairs' President and CEO Bill Ryan Authored the Plain Dealer guest column, "Why Medicaid expansion has been good for Ohio."

In the piece, Ryan makes several cases for Medicaid expansion, one of which is from a tax perspective. "Continued Medicaid expansion ensures that Ohio benefits from the tax dollars its citizens are already paying to the federal government," he said.  

He also points out that, "Medicaid expansion will result in close to $19 billion in increased economic activity between 2014 and 2022. To put that in perspective, the economic impact of this policy is roughly the same as Cleveland hosting the Republican National Convention every month for the next eight years."

Finally, Ryan answers the question, "Why Medicaid expansion has been good for Ohio," by pointing out the significant health benefits that have come from the policy. "It ensures, too, that the workers themselves stay healthy. Without access to care, workers come to the job sick -- or just stop coming at all. Some struggle to manage their chronic conditions while others helplessly watch small health problems become big ones."

To read Ryan's full thoughts on Why Medicaid expansion has been good for Ohio," visit cleveland.com.