HPIO Discusses Healthcare Ruling's Impact on Ohio

The Health Policy Institute of Ohio has released a new publication titled “The Supreme Court's ruling on the Affordable Care Act: A review of the decision and its impact on Ohio” (pdf, 8 pages).

The policy brief summarizes the U.S. Supreme Court's June 28 ruling upholding the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), with the exception of the law's provision expanding Medicaid. The court found that the federal government could not coerce states into expanding their Medicaid programs with the threat of withholding all Medicaid funding for existing state programs, leaving states with the choice to expand eligibility to all residents earning up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level.

The paper explores the implications for Ohio of the court's decision to uphold the ACA’s private market insurance reforms, exchange subsidies for individuals earning between 100 and 400% FPL, and initiatives designed to improve the cost and quality of the health care system remain in effect, as well as the factors to be considered in regard to the now-optional Medicaid expansion.

"While putting to rest many policy issues, the Medicaid decision now provides an option to states," the report concludes. "Ohio’s policymakers will need to give careful consideration to both the cost implications inherent in the Medicaid expansion, as well as the impact on Ohio’s poorest citizens — those with incomes below 100% of FPL who, in the absence of Medicaid expansion, would be ineligible for Medicaid and ineligible for exchange subsidies to purchase private coverage."