Senate President: Governor Likely Has Medicaid Expansion Votes

The leader of the Ohio Senate says the governor’s idea to go around the legislature and bring Medicaid expansion to a state panel likely will work. Senate President Keith Fabor says Gov. John Kasich likely would not have brought Medicaid expansion to the controlling board if he didn’t have the votes. The seven-member board handles adjustments to the state budget. Medicaid expansion would be paid for with $2/5 billion in federal money and is optional under the Affordable Care Act. Gov. Kasich and Democrats have supported lowering the income ceiling for Medicaid to allow thousands more Ohioans into the program. Many conservative lawmakers have been cold to the idea.