Ohio is at a turning point on healthcare.

Nearly 3.1 million Ohioans, roughly 25% of the state’s population, rely on Medicaid for healthcare coverage, yet many still struggle to access care. Low reimbursement rates are a major factor, with physicians and other medical providers treating Medicaid patients receiving only about 55% of what Medicare pays, leading many providers to stop accepting Medicaid altogether. Hospitals serving large Medicaid populations are also under financial strain due to lower payments, contributing to hospital closures and further limiting access to care in many communities.

A new bipartisan proposal in Ohio aims to change that.

The Medicaid Savings Act would restructure how the state administers Medicaid by reducing reliance on private managed care organizations and moving toward a more streamlined system. Lawmakers behind the bill say the goal is simple: cut unnecessary bureaucracy, eliminate costly middlemen, and ensure Medicaid recipients have access to care.

The potential impact is significant. Estimates suggest the change could save between $450 million and $850 million annually, while simplifying coverage for over 3 million Ohioans who rely on Medicaid. Supporters point to proven results from similar reforms, including Connecticut’s Medicaid deprivatization effort, which has saved more than $4 billion over the past 12 years, as well as Ohio’s own Medicaid pharmacy benefit management reforms that saved taxpayers $140 million in just two years.

Healthcare professionals argue that the current system has become unsustainable. Administrative roles have expanded dramatically over the past several decades, while patients and providers are left navigating a complex web of approvals, billing disputes, and coverage uncertainty. The result is a system that is expensive, difficult to access, and often fails the people it is meant to serve.

For Healthcare for All Ohioans, this moment represents more than a single policy change. It is part of a broader effort to move toward a healthcare system that guarantees coverage for every resident. This includes medical, dental, vision, and mental health services without premiums, co-pays, or surprise billing.

But advocates emphasize that legislation like this does not move forward on its own.

Insurance industry interests and entrenched stakeholders have a long history of opposing reforms that threaten their role in the system. Without sustained public pressure, even bipartisan proposals can stall.

That is where public engagement becomes critical.

Healthcare for All Ohioans is organizing residents across the state to support the Medicaid Savings Act and push for broader structural reform. The organization is calling on individuals to stay informed, contact their legislators, attend events, and help build the kind of visible, sustained momentum that lawmakers cannot ignore.

The stakes are immediate. Each delay means more people going without care, more families facing financial strain, and more strain on a system already under immense pressure.

Change is possible, but only if enough people demand it.

Sign your name today to join the effort, receive updates, and take action in support of healthcare reform in Ohio.