Ohio officials say they've received more than 54,000 applications from people seeking Medicaid health coverage through a new state website.
Of those submitted, Ohio Medicaid says more than 20,000 applications had been approved as of Jan. 22. Almost 4,000 applications were denied. The online enrollment option became available in December to eligible low-income families, along with individuals who fell under an expansion of the federal-state program for the poor and disabled. County caseworkers are helping to finalize most of the initial online applications. It wasn't immediately known how many applications came from those who are newly eligible under the Medicaid extension. The state expects to have those figures in mid-February. Gov. John Kasich's administration moved forward with expanding Medicaid last fall. Coverage took effect Jan. 1.