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Sheriffs, county leaders press for Medicaid waiver so jails can bill federal funds for pretrial care
Summary
Sheriffs and county officials asked the Senate committee to back House language requiring the Ohio Department of Medicaid to pursue an 11/15 waiver so federal Medicaid dollars could cover eligible medical treatment for incarcerated people who are pretrial, and to restore or increase state jail construction and renovation grants.
Seneca County Sheriff Frederick Stevens and Seneca County Commissioner Bill Frankert urged the Senate Government Oversight and Reform Committee to support language in the House budget requiring the Ohio Department of Medicaid to file for an 11/15 Medicaid waiver so federal funds could cover eligible health care costs for individuals incarcerated in county jails prior to conviction.
Sheriff Stevens said many jailed people have mental health or substance use disorders that would otherwise qualify them for Medicaid and that jails have borne rising medical costs. He said his office’s medical line has repeatedly been exceeded—"In 2020, my office budgeted $40,000 for inmate medical expenses...By the end of that year, we spent over 76,000," Stevens said—and described a recent example in which billed charges of $389,697.06 for one repeat offender were reduced to $19,967.54 after review by a medical billing company.
Commissioner Bill Frankert told the committee counties are ‘‘left to fully absorb’’ these costs and that allowing Medicaid coverage during the pretrial period would improve continuity of care while reducing emergency room visits and repeat incarcerations. Both witnesses also pressed the committee to restore or increase state funding for jail construction and renovation, arguing many county facilities are aging, overcapacity, or lack space and equipment to meet health and safety standards.
Sheriff Michael Simpson, testifying earlier on behalf of the Buckeye State Sheriffs Association, also urged continued state support for jail construction and renovation, and outlined additional priorities including increased compensation language for locally elected officials, MARCS radio user fee assistance, and support for NextGen 911 funding.
No formal action or vote on Medicaid waiver language occurred during the hearing; witnesses requested the Senate retain the House provision requiring the Department of Medicaid to submit an 11/15 waiver application.
Ending: County leaders framed the waiver and jail grants as fiscal and public‑health priorities; the committee did not take a vote and left funding decisions to the budget process.
