

Policy and partnership to advance health care.
News
February 12, 2023
Cleveland.com: Help is available to keep Ohioans with Medicaid from losing health coverage

Issues and Advocacy
The Ohio Association of Health Plans works on behalf of its member plans to advance policy, legislation and outcomes that improve the health and wellbeing of all those its members serve.
OAHP Overview
Ohio’s health plans are major contributors to Ohio’s economy, innovators of programs to improve the health of Ohioans and avenues for individuals, employers, and the state to get the best value for the health care services they need. The Ohio Association of Health Plans (OAHP), which is comprised of 16 member plans, is the voice for Ohio’s health insurance industry. Our members provide health care coverage to more than 9 million Ohioans through the private, commercial coverage and are committed partners in public programs, such as Medicaid, the Health Insurance Exchange and Medicare.
Prescription Drug Prices Start at the Top
Two-thirds of all U.S. adults use prescription drugs, at an average cost of $1,200 per year. High list prices, set by pharmaceutical companies, are driving up the cost of health care and hurting vulnerable Americans, especially the elderly. Among people 65 or older, 12% say they haven’t take all their prescribed medications in the past two years because of high costs. Among those 51 to 64, 25% reported rationing needed medications.
MyCare for Dual-Eligible Ohioans
Since 2014, nearly 150,000 Ohioans who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid — many of whom are frail and elderly — have chosen to receive long-term supports and services through MyCare Ohio, a pilot project that brings the benefits of managed care to this especially vulnerable population. Now, the federal government has directed states with such pilot programs to either convert them to programs serving all dual-eligibles or end them by December 31, 2023. We support the Ohio Department of Medicaid proposal to transition MyCare to a program serving all Ohio dual-eligibles.
Prior Authorization and Gold Carding
Prior Authorization is a necessary tool to help ensure patient care is safe, effective and affordable. In Ohio’s competitive health insurance marketplace, many insurers are developing gold-carding programs to attract the proven best-performing providers, by exempting them from prior authorization.