Gauging the Health of Ohio Residents on the Basis of Medicaid Investment
Introduction
Ohio is spending nearly 40% of the state budget insuring low-income residents through Medicaid, yet how healthy are its residents as a result? This article takes a closer look at the correlation of medical investment and health outcomes for residents of the Buckeye State.
Medicaid Expenditures in Ohio
Medicaid expenditure in Ohio accounts for nearly $34 billion dollars of the state budget. This funding is instrumental in helping certain populations such as infants, children, seniors and disabled, as well as the provision of healthcare services such as preventative care, hospitalizations, home health services, and drugs. It has become an even bigger part of the state’s budget amid a pandemic that has caused job losses and more people to seek healthcare coverage.
Measuring the Impact on Ohio’s Health
Since Medicaid can be such a large part of the state budget, it is important to assess the impact of such expenditures on the health of Ohio residents. This is especially important in a state where the rate of deaths due to chronic disease-related issues is higher than the national average. Additionally, the state’s poverty rate – at 15% of the population – is higher than the national average.
However, certain health metrics indicate that Ohio is trending in the right direction. The rate of infant mortality has been decreasing in the state, and the rate of uninsured residents has gone down from 13.2% in 2013 to 13.6% in 2018. Still, the findings show that even with Medicaid covering 40% of the state’s budget, there’s still room for improvement in Ohio’s health metrics.
Conclusion
Medicaid expenditure in Ohio makes up a large portion of the state’s budget, yet certain health metrics indicate that more can be done to improve the health of its residents. The rate of chronic disease-related deaths is higher than the national average, and the poverty rate is also higher than the national average. While there is some good news in the state’s declining rate of infant mortality and uninsured residents, policymakers and healthcare professionals have their work cut out for them to ensure Medicaid funds are being used to their fullest potential.