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House Medicaid Committee hears sponsor testimony on bill to bar Medicaid funding for providers that perform abortions
Summary
Sponsors of House Bill 410 told the House Medicaid Committee the bill would align Ohio law with a federal change and bar state Medicaid payments to entities that perform elective abortions; lawmakers asked whether the change would reduce access to cancer screenings and other nonabortion services.
A sponsor appearing for Representatives Schmidt and Matthews told the House Medicaid Committee that House Bill 410 would align Ohio law with a recent federal measure and "prevent state Medicaid spending on organizations which perform abortion." The sponsor said the change is intended to ensure state dollars pair with matching federal funds.
The sponsor framed the move as a fiscal protection for Ohio’s Medicaid program, which the testimony described as absorbing roughly half of the state’s budget. The sponsor provided current budget figures, saying the program is allocated $45,360,000,000 and $47,690,000,000 in all-source funding in the current budget cycles and warned of a potential additional $1,000,000,000 expenditure for nursing homes that could further strain state finances.
Committee members questioned how the restriction would affect patients who use providers for nonabortion services. Representative Lett asked what would happen to patients who rely on clinics for cancer screenings, birth control and other care if those clinics lose Medicaid funding and close. The sponsor answered that other states have models in which providers choose to stop offering elective abortions in order to remain eligible for Medicaid payments. "The Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin has made the decision to be eligible for Medicaid dollars and comply with Federal HR 1, [and] has decided to only be providing all of those services that you mentioned and give up on doing the elective abortions," the sponsor said.
Ranking Member Baker asked whether the federal measure referenced during testimony (referred to in testimony as HR 1) applies only for one year or whether the bill would make the restriction permanent in state law. The sponsor replied, "this would make it permanent," adding that the Revised Code and future budgets could adjust implementation details.
Representative Hall pressed whether reducing the number of providers would worsen access for Medicaid recipients. The sponsor acknowledged the concern but said the state could avoid a net reduction in providers if entities choose to stop providing abortions and continue other services, arguing that aligning state and federal restrictions would allow limited state dollars to be used where federal matching exists.
Committee members sought a final clarification on whether a provider that offers multiple services would lose all Medicaid funding if it performs abortions. The sponsor confirmed that providers would remain eligible for Medicaid funding so long as they do not provide abortions; the sponsor summarized the policy as giving providers the choice to discontinue elective abortion services to retain state Medicaid payments.
No bill vote occurred during the hearing. The committee approved the minutes of the previous meeting without objection and adjourned after testimony and questions.
