Medicaid supporters await board decision in Ohio

COLUMBUS (AP) — Advocates for extending Medicaid coverage in Ohio say they intend to keep state lawmakers’ phone lines ringing with calls in support of the issue.

The push comes ahead of a legislative board’s looming decision on funding Medicaid expansion. The state Controlling Board is scheduled Monday to vote on a request from Gov. John Kasich to authorize spending federal money on the newly eligible Medicaid enrollees.

Jon Allison of the Healthy Ohioans Work campaign said today that his group plans for now to continue an effort that could put Medicaid expansion on 2014 ballots. Though he said supporters would reassess that decision after the board’s vote.

Allison also acknowledged that the possibility of a legal challenge to the board’s vote could complicate how supporters proceed with signature-gathering for their petition.