FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 12, 2004

Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council
8 East Long Street, Suite 1200
Columbus, OH 43215

Contact: Leslie Paull
(614) 466-5205; (800) 766-7426

Study Projects Participants and Costs of Medicaid Buy-In

A report recently completed on the cost and enrollment projections of providing a Medicaid Buy-In program in Ohio shows that:

• Up to 7,000 people with severe disabilities could go to work, or return to work, if Ohio offered a Medicaid Buy-in (MBI) program.
• A significant portion of the individuals enrolling in an MBI program will be current Medicaid enrollees, not new individuals entering the Medicaid system. With MBI these individuals will be able to maintain their health care and become taxpaying citizens. Having MBI in Ohio would reduce the unemployment rate of people with disabilities which is currently over 70%.

The report also predicts that individuals enrolling in an MBI program will be current Medicaid enrollees, not new individuals entering the Medicaid system. With MBI these individuals will be able to maintain their health care and become taxpaying citizens.

People with disabilities often are discouraged from working because increasing their earnings makes them ineligible for Medicaid and the coverage they need for acute and long-term support services. People are forced to choose between health insurance and work. In order to keep their Medicaid eligibility, these people may stop working or reduce their work hours because they cannot afford to pay for all their medical expenses.

The federal Ticket to Work and Work Incentive Improvement Act of 1999 gives states the option of providing Medicaid health insurance coverage to working individuals with disabilities who do not qualify for Medicaid under existing income and asset rules. With MBI, a person pays a premium for Medicaid coverage; the size of the premium is based on the amount of the person’s income. Twenty-five states have adopted a Medicaid Buy-In program.

The Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council (ODDC) commissioned Dr. Stephen Howe of the University of Cincinnati, Department of Psychology/Evaluation, Policy and Program Planning to conduct the study. His report, “Thinking About Medicaid Buy-In Enrollment Projections for Ohio: Lessons from Other States,” is available on the ODDC website: www.ddc.ohio.gov/Pub/oddcrep2.htm

The ODDC is one of a national network of state councils committed to self-determination and community inclusion for people with developmental disabilities. ODDC receives federal funding to help carry out its mission of developing new and better ways of advocating, increasing capacities to assist people, and making needed changes to systems.

ODDC consists of members appointed by the Governor who are people with developmental disabilities, parents and guardians of people with developmental disabilities, representatives from concerned state agencies, and nonprofit organizations, and agencies that provide services to people with developmental disabilities.

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