Ohio court grants speedy schedule in Medicaid case

COLUMBUS (AP) — The Ohio Supreme Court has agreed to a speedy schedule in a lawsuit over a legislative panel’s authority to approve Medicaid expansion funding.

Two anti-abortion groups and six Republican lawmakers are suing Ohio after the state Controlling Board cleared the way for Gov. John Kasich’s administration to spend federal dollars to cover thousands more people in the Medicaid health program.

The plaintiffs had argued such speed was warranted because expanded Medicaid coverage takes effect Jan. 1.

Attorneys for the state had said there was no need for the rush, but they were open to a “reasonable” timeline.

At issue is whether the board last week thwarted the intent of the Legislature when it allowed $2.56 billion in federal dollars to be spent on the expansion.