Ohio Medicaid chief says early expansion unlikely

COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohio’s Medicaid director says the state is unlikely to expand health-care coverage through the program this year, an option given to states under President Barack Obama’s health-care overhaul.

Director Tracy Plouck tells The Associated Press that a tight state budget makes it difficult to expand the program now, even with the help of partial federal funding.

Many financially struggling states share the same concerns, and it’s unclear which ones may jump at the chance to fill coverage gaps ahead of 2014, when most of the health care provisions kick in.

The law requires states to extend Medicaid eligibility in 2014, with the federal government picking up 100 percent of the cost for three years. After that, federal support gradually declines through 2020.