Tagged: Healthcare

The state of Ohio has received a $2.1 million federal grant to improve criminal background checks for those home health care workers who directly serve the disabled and elderly.

The money means more thorough reviews for more than 100,000 workers who provide direct care to patients in Medicaid- and Medicare-funded settings.

Gov. John Kasich's administration says Ohio also will provide $700,000 in state funds to bolster background checks.

State officials say scammers are trying to steal Ohioans' personal information by claiming to be representatives of the new online insurance marketplaces under the federal health care law.

Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor, who is also the state's insurance director, is issuing a consumer alert after reports of scammers offering to help navigate consumers through the so-called health insurance exchanges.

Taylor says the scammers are trying to capitalize on confusion around the federal Affordable Care Act.

The leader of the Ohio Senate says he could have chosen his words more carefully when arguing that the federal government has put the state in a difficult position as it decides whether to expand Medicaid.

Senate President Keith Faber said Monday it was "probably inartful" of him to liken the choice to the government loading a revolver, pointing it at states and saying "do this or else." 

Faber, a Celina Republican, had described Medicaid expansion as an ultimatum to the Lima News in an article posted online Saturday.