AMCNO Legislative Update

Governor Kasich issued his first executive order by naming Lt. Governor Mary Taylor to spearhead a drive across all agencies to rid the state of regulations that are viewed as stifling job creation. He created a "Common Sense Initiative" (CSI) that Taylor will lead. The CSI will also study privatization of state services and operations and reduce red tape that can be an impediment to the business community in Ohio.

Gov. John Kasich named new directors to lead the Ohio Department of Health and the Office of Health Plans (Medicaid). They are Dr. Theodore (Ted) Wymyslo, who will become the Director of the Ohio Department of Health; and John McCarthy, who will become the Director of the Office of Ohio Health Plans (Medicaid).
In order to address the projected $8 to $10 billion budget shortfall, Governor Kasich created the Office of Health Transformation (OHT), which will devise a plan to restructure health and human service agencies. The new office's charge includes four tasks to be accomplished within its first six months, the biggest of which is to devise a permanent health and human services organizational structure. Mr. Greg Moody has been named to become the Director of the Governor’s Office of Health Transformation. Tasks for the OHT include:

bullet Advocating the administration's modernization and cost-containment priorities for Medicaid in the forthcoming biennial budget
bullet Initiating and guiding planning for an insurance market exchange
bullet Engaging the private sector to set clear expectations for overall health system performance

Governor Kasich will also be exploring privatization of state operations and services in order to raise revenue, eliminate waste, and make services cost-efficient. Some potential options are:

bullet Privatizing some state prisons
bullet Selling the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Liquor Control
bullet Selling or leasing the operations of the Ohio Lottery Commission
bullet Leasing the Ohio Turnpike

Below is a list of other legislation of note that was introduced recently:

bullet Prohibit state agencies from implementing or enforcing a provision of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act without meeting certain conditions (HB 11).
bullet Direct the Department of Job and Family Services to seek federal approval to create a Medicaid premium assistance component (HB 13).
bullet Authorize a $2,400 income tax withholding credit for employers that hire a previously unemployed individual (HB 17).

The AMCNO legislative staff is following the budget discussions closely and they are working with the AMCNO physician leadership to set up meetings with the newly appointed legislators and directors.