Medicaid Cuts Could Deepen Ohio’s Maternal and Infant Health Crisis, Advocates Warn
Advocates across Ohio are warning that potential cuts to federal and state Medicaid funding could have devastating consequences, particularly for maternal and infant health, an area where Ohio has struggled for decades.
Ohio consistently ranks among the worst states for infant mortality rates and also faces significant maternal mortality challenges. With Medicaid covering approximately 40% of all births in the U.S. and one-third of the country’s children, any reductions in the program could severely impact access to critical health services for mothers and babies.
Part of the existing problem is the low Medicaid reimbursement rate, which discourages many physicians from accepting Medicaid patients. Facilities like Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio, where 43% of patients rely on Medicaid, often depend heavily on donor support to make up the shortfall. Erica Wilson-Domer, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio, emphasized that low reimbursement rates are a major driver of the state’s high infant mortality rates. She voiced serious concerns about the potential impact of further Medicaid cuts on the health of Ohioans.
Wilson-Domer also pointed to the broader consequences of reducing health funding. Without preventive care options, more patients are forced into emergency rooms for urgent care needs, driving up healthcare costs and increasing wait times for all patients, including those with private insurance.
At the state level, the Ohio House’s version of the budget includes a proposal to eliminate Medicaid expansion coverage (Group VIII) if federal contributions drop below 90%, potentially leaving 770,000 Ohioans without health insurance. This could make it even harder for pregnant individuals to access care early in pregnancy, when timely intervention is crucial for managing conditions like gestational diabetes, leading to poorer outcomes for both mothers and infants.
Advocates stress that increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates would encourage more providers to accept Medicaid patients and improve access to critical care, ultimately helping to reduce Ohio’s high maternal and infant mortality rates.
Meanwhile, ongoing political battles over reproductive health continue to complicate the landscape. Although Ohio’s six-week abortion ban was temporarily blocked following the 2023 passage of a constitutional amendment guaranteeing abortion rights, other state laws regulating abortion and reproductive health services are still being contested in court.
Nationally, the Gender Equity Policy Institute found that individuals living in states with abortion bans are nearly twice as likely to die during pregnancy or shortly afterward, with Black mothers facing an even greater risk compared to their white counterparts.
Wilson-Domer underscored that the attacks on reproductive healthcare, including cuts to family planning grants, threats to defund Planned Parenthood, and restrictions on medical services, are part of a broader assault on healthcare for low-income families. She stressed that protecting Medicaid and reproductive healthcare funding is essential not just for those seeking abortions, but for the overall health and well-being of all Ohioans.
“What we seek to do is provide a safe space for people to get the good medical care they need,” Wilson-Domer said.
