Big changes coming at Ohio Medicaid

More than 1.6 million Ohioans could find different companies managing their Medicaid benefits next year. Determined to shave costs, Gov. John Kasich and his top healthcare advisers are streamlining the system to five statewide health plans and three regions starting in January 2013, instead of 38 health plans in 10 regions currently. Changes to the managed care plans, a contrast with traditional medical care where doctors are paid for specific procedures or visits, will save $144 million during the next two years, the state's top health care officials say. Ohio's Medicaid costs of about $4.8 billion this year are nearly one-fifth of the state budget and growing.