Governor Kasich’s decision to expand the state’s Medicaid program will add nearly 300,000 new enrollees. But the expansion won’t take effect until 2014. MetroHealth announced plans to cover the uninsured in Cuyahoga County, now. It's the first program in Ohio to provide healthcare coverage to more of the uninsured. Anne Glausser from Ohio Public Radio station WCPN has more.
Full Story Copy
MetroHealth, the county’s safety-net hospital, will provide health coverage for up to 30,000 uninsured people under a program that starts this week. It’s open to Cuyahoga residents who will qualify for Medicaid coverage in 2014.
MetroHealth’s John Corlett says the 1 year program will give the county a head-start on the state’s Medicaid expansion.
CORLETT: We have a lot of uninsured adults in Cuyahoga County and this program can provide help for people today and then prepare them for full state Medicaid coverage in 2014.
New enrollees will be paired with a primary care team that will coordinate all their healthcare. Services will include things like preventive exams, dental care, and mental health services.
The program is funded by money from the county’s human services levy and matching funds from the federal government.