FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 9, 2021

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Dan Tierney (DeWine): 614-644-0957
Bethany McCorkle (Yost): 614-955-8848

Ohio Appeals Biden Administration Decision Eliminating Medicaid Work Requirement

(COLUMBUS, Ohio)?Ohio Governor Mike DeWine on Wednesday requested Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost to take necessary legal action to reverse the Biden Administration?s decision to withdraw Ohio?s Medicaid work requirements. Yost?s Office filed a notice of appeal?with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

?Removing a provision that says a healthy, able-bodied individual should be working, looking for work, participating in job training, or participating in a recovery program in order to receive free taxpayer-funded healthcare is contrary to Ohioans? values,? said Governor DeWine. ?Eliminating reasonable requirements discourages people from becoming self-sufficient and only reinforces government dependency. Ohio?s program would offer assistance when Ohioans need it, while providing opportunities for future success.?

The Biden Administration revoked Ohio?s work requirements last month following the 2019 approval by the Trump Administration. Members of the Ohio legislature passed a bill in 2017 requiring the state to establish work requirements for the Medicaid expansion population.

-30-