March 13, 2018

Ms. Barbara Sears
Director, Bureau of Health Plan Policy
Ohio Department of Medicaid
50 W Town St., 5th Floor
Columbus OH 43218

Group VIII Work Requirement and Community Engagement 1115 Demonstration Waiver Application

The proposed waiver considered by the Ohio Department of Medicaid establishes new work and community engagement requirements in order to qualify for Medicaid. As currently crafted, it is complicated and targets a population already at serious risk for health and welfare. It also undermines the physical and mental health and self-sufficiency of a population that has shown significant improvement since expanded access to Medicaid was made possible.

Attached you will find a copy of comments sent to you from Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland. It captures our concerns.

In 2013, because of our concern for the poor and vulnerable, the Catholic Conference of Ohio joined with Ohio’s Catholic hospitals to support Medicaid expansion in Ohio. The Catholic Bishops of Ohio have consistently insisted that access to decent health care is a basic safeguard of human life and an affirmation of human dignity from conception until natural death. Medicaid serves the most vulnerable. It is a vital safety net that offers health care coverage to Ohio’s low-income children, parents, pregnant women, seniors, and people with disabilities, serious mental illness, and drug addiction. Our Catholic hospitals, nursing homes, mental health, and developmental disabilities programs effectively and responsibly utilize and depend on reimbursement from the Medicaid Expansion Program.

Thank you for this consideration,

Jim Tobin
Associate Director, Department of Social Concerns
Catholic Conference of Ohio