Judge Orders State To Restore Some Medicaid Benefits

A federal judge has ordered state officials to reinstate Medicaid benefits for plaintiffs in a lawsuit, while denying a request to expand benefits to others being terminated from the program.  The decision comes in a case involving how the state's Medicaid agency re-determines eligibility.  The Legal Aid Society of Columbus sued the state's Medicaid director on behalf of several individuals and two nonprofits, claiming benefits were terminated or put at risk after the state failed to follow federal law and Medicaid regulations. Among other issues, the group argues the agency failed to conduct a certain renewal process and provide adequate notice for terminating coverage.