The proposed repeal of the Affordable Care Act could cost Ohio up to 8.5 billion dollars over the next eight years, according to a new study by a statewide research group. Ohio Public Radio's Karen Kasler reports.
The Center for Community Solutions estimates that the ACA repeal could mean Ohio
would pay between $6.4 billion and $8.5 billion through 2025 to maintain the Medicaid program.
Researcher Loren Anthes says almost three million Ohioans are on Medicaid so it has a huge reach.
“It pays for 1 in 2 births in the state of Ohio. It pays for coverage for 1 in 4 Ohioans generally. And when you get into places like Vinton County, 40% of the total population is on the Medicaid program.”
Anthes says even if federal funding for Medicaid expansion is maintained at 80%, he projects it would cost Ohio up to 1.1 billion to insure the 700,000 people who are covered under it.