Ohio officials seek Medicaid eligibility overhaul

COLUMBUS, Ohio - State officials want to overhaul the Medicaid eligibility process for about 700,000 Ohioans who receive the tax-funded health services.

A draft of their plans was released for public comment Wednesday afternoon. The proposal is aimed at simplifying Ohio's complex and lengthy process for determining whether a person is eligible for the program that serves the poor and disabled.

The changes would require federal approval.

Determining whether a person is eligible for Medicaid can take as long as 45 days, while case workers evaluate applicants against more than 150 separate categories.

State officials want to move from what they call a fragmented process, to a more simplified model based on income.

The draft calls for replacing an outdated computer system that frequently denies Medicaid eligibility in error and causes administrative burdens.