Free Standing Ohio Medicaid Agency Being Developed
BOHCA has just received word from John Mcarthy,  Ohio Medicaid Director, and Michael Colbert, Director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS), that the Governor’s Office of Health Transformation (OHT) has decided to move forward with the creation of a stand-alone Medicaid agency. The recently passed Mid-Biennium Review gave the Medicaid Director cabinet-level operation authority, and the Director has determined that creating a stand-alone agency will streamline administrative processes and reduce confusion.  ODJFS and the Office of Ohio Health Plans (OHP) will seek authority to create a stand-alone Medicaid agency in the SFY 2014-2015 operating budget, and will begin work immediately in order to make the transition as smooth as possible. According to the notice, there will be no immediate changes to current operating procedures in the Office of Fiscal and Monitoring Services and the Office of Information Services. ODJFS legal staff who specialize in Medicaid already have been relocated and now report directly to Ohio Medicaid Director John McCarthy.  More information is available on the OHT website. Please watch OHCA communications for additional information as it becomes available.