Faith leaders urge Ohio lawmakers to expand Medicaid

Tom Smith is Director of Public Policy for the Ohio Council of Churches. The Ohio Council of Churches asks all of its members to reach out their legislators and encourage them to join with Governor Kasich and vote to approve the Medicaid expansion.I believe that most of the opposition from conservative voters to this important improvement in the health care arena is connected with President Obama's Affordable Care Act. It was the only piece that the U.S. Supreme Court left for states to decide about individually.From the Christian point of view, it's the most important piece. Jesus would never have left "the least among them" to find cures for themselves. In Mark 2, a paralyzed man wants to be healed, but he can't get to Jesus. So four friends carried the paralyzed man to Jesus.Expanding Medicaid is to show compassion to the most vulnerable people. Expanding Medicaid is to take seriously the biblical model of being a good neighbor. How many low-income Americans with cancer, heart problems, or diabetes would live longer lives because they received early treatment? The U.S. is one of the very few industrialized countries in the world that has failed to provide health care to all of its citizens.Thank you, Governor Kasich, for lifting up this important change to health care for the most vulnerable, demonstrating the most basic foundation of our Christian faith, showing that loving your neighbor means more than just the rich, white, and powerful.Jim Tobin is Director of Social Concerns for the Catholic Conference of Ohio.Because of our concern for the poor and the vulnerable, the Catholic Conference is pleased to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in faith here in urging our elected officials to expand Medicaid.Along with the faith communities here today, we also join with the Ohio Catholic hospitals the Catholic charities throughout Ohio, and Ohio Right to Life in advocating and educating for this change.The Catholic Bishops of Ohio have consistently insisted that access to decent health care is an affirmation of humanity and a basic safeguard of human life, from conception until natural death.The Medicaid program is not perfect. While we continue to advocate for change in the overall Medicaid program, such as increases in provider rates and decreases in certain coverages, we support the many life-affirming features of this program. These include Medicaid's preference for the poor, its Hyde Amendment protections of unborn children, and its tremendous help for health care providers.Prenatal care is one of the life-affirming features of Medicaid. Our Catholic hospitals, nursing homes, mental health, and developmental disability programs effectively and responsibly utilize, and depend on, Medicaid reimbursement.For example, Medicaid patients account for about 16 percent of a typical Ohio hospital's admissions, outpatient, and ER visits. Ohio Catholic hospitals provided inpatient care to close to 57,000 program beneficiaries in 2010.This expansion will increase access to health care coverage to hundreds of thousands of uninsured Ohioans. This will strengthen the health care safety net, while adding value to the overall delivery of Ohio's Medicaid services. Bishop Gregory Palmer serves the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church."In a really serious way, we are here today to respond to the question, 'Who is my neighbor?'" said United Methodist Bishop Gregory Palmer, citing Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan. "We believe that all of our neighbors are God's children, no matter what their convictions are, no matter what their racial/ethic heritage is, no matter what their ZIP code is.We believe that part of our responsibility is to see to it that all of our neighbors have access to adequate, high-quality health care. We're here also to express our solidarity and our sense of faith and admiration for the Governor, who has made a courageous and bold move in saying that the state of Ohio ought to be a part of the expansion of Medicaid.While many see this as a huge challenge, and it is, we see it also as a huge opportunity to cover persons and give them access to health care that they would not otherwise have.Psalm 146 speaks of a God who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free. The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. Providing the care needed to maintain health, prevent disease, and restore health after injury or illness, is a responsibility that each person owes all others, and government owes to all. It's a responsibility that government ignores at its own peril.Our vision, as United Methodists, is that we can do this because we approach it from the standpoint of God's abundance. We believe that the expansion of Medicaid and access to high-quality health care for all persons is a sign of our intention to practice living in community with and for each other.  Our commitment to health care is to recognize that we are part of a larger community, and that we must work for the common good.Finally, it is a matter of stewardship. The best stewardship of health care is to ensure that people are able to maintain wellness through consistent care. This is careful stewardship of God's resources, while demonstrating God's love for all.View the list »
On March 5 at the Ohio Statehouse, Reverend Julia Neal opens a Medicaid expansion press conference with a prayer.

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As provisions of the Affordable Care Act go into effect, governors around the nation are considering whether their states should opt in to the Medicaid expansion provision of the law.

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Ohio Governor John Kasich has been opposed to the Affordable Care Act, in particular its mandatory coverage component. But after considering the benefits to Ohio from the Medicaid expansion provision, he decided to include it last month in his proposed two-year state budget.

Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish faith leaders held a press conference at the Ohio Statehouse on Tuesday to urge the Ohio General Assembly to approve Governor Kasich's plan to expand Medicaid eligibility. About 90 people were in attendance.

"We believe that part of our responsibility is to see to it that all of our neighbors have access to adequate, high-quality health care," said United Methodist Bishop Gregory Palmer. "We're here also to express our solidarity and our sense of faith and admiration for the Governor, who has made a courageous and bold move in saying that the state of Ohio ought to be a part of the expansion of Medicaid."

Medicaid expansion would "increase access to health care coverage to hundreds of thousands of uninsured Ohioans," said Jim Tobin, Director of Social Concerns for the Catholic Conference of Ohio. "This will strengthen the health care safety net, while adding value to the overall delivery of Ohio's Medicaid services."

"In our Jewish tradition, we understand that providing health care is not only an obligation for an individual doctor, but for society as well," said Rabbi Misha Zinkow of Temple Israel in Columbus.

"Everyone wins with this expansion," said Rev. Timothy Ahrens, Senior Pastor at First Congregational Church in Columbus. "We deeply appreciate that Governor Kasich has stepped forward to lead in this effort by including the expansion of Medicaid in his state budget."

Longer excerpts from faith leaders who spoke at the press conference accompany the list of photos in this article (click View the list above or below).

View the list
  • Bishop Gregory Palmer serves the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church."In a really serious way, we are here today to respond to the question, 'Who is my neighbor?'" said United Methodist Bishop Gregory Palmer, citing Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan. "We believe that all of our neighbors are God's children, no matter what their convictions are, no matter what their racial/ethic heritage is, no matter what their ZIP code is.We believe that part of our responsibility is to see to it that all of our neighbors have access to adequate, high-quality health care. We're here also to express our solidarity and our sense of faith and admiration for the Governor, who has made a courageous and bold move in saying that the state of Ohio ought to be a part of the expansion of Medicaid.While many see this as a huge challenge, and it is, we see it also as a huge opportunity to cover persons and give them access to health care that they would not otherwise have.Psalm 146 speaks of a God who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free. The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. Providing the care needed to maintain health, prevent disease, and restore health after injury or illness, is a responsibility that each person owes all others, and government owes to all. It's a responsibility that government ignores at its own peril.Our vision, as United Methodists, is that we can do this because we approach it from the standpoint of God's abundance. We believe that the expansion of Medicaid and access to high-quality health care for all persons is a sign of our intention to practice living in community with and for each other.  Our commitment to health care is to recognize that we are part of a larger community, and that we must work for the common good.Finally, it is a matter of stewardship. The best stewardship of health care is to ensure that people are able to maintain wellness through consistent care. This is careful stewardship of God's resources, while demonstrating God's love for all.
  • Jim Tobin is Director of Social Concerns for the Catholic Conference of Ohio.Because of our concern for the poor and the vulnerable, the Catholic Conference is pleased to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in faith here in urging our elected officials to expand Medicaid.Along with the faith communities here today, we also join with the Ohio Catholic hospitals the Catholic charities throughout Ohio, and Ohio Right to Life in advocating and educating for this change.The Catholic Bishops of Ohio have consistently insisted that access to decent health care is an affirmation of humanity and a basic safeguard of human life, from conception until natural death.The Medicaid program is not perfect. While we continue to advocate for change in the overall Medicaid program, such as increases in provider rates and decreases in certain coverages, we support the many life-affirming features of this program. These include Medicaid's preference for the poor, its Hyde Amendment protections of unborn children, and its tremendous help for health care providers.Prenatal care is one of the life-affirming features of Medicaid. Our Catholic hospitals, nursing homes, mental health, and developmental disability programs effectively and responsibly utilize, and depend on, Medicaid reimbursement.For example, Medicaid patients account for about 16 percent of a typical Ohio hospital's admissions, outpatient, and ER visits. Ohio Catholic hospitals provided inpatient care to close to 57,000 program beneficiaries in 2010.This expansion will increase access to health care coverage to hundreds of thousands of uninsured Ohioans. This will strengthen the health care safety net, while adding value to the overall delivery of Ohio's Medicaid services. 
  • Tom Smith is Director of Public Policy for the Ohio Council of Churches. The Ohio Council of Churches asks all of its members to reach out their legislators and encourage them to join with Governor Kasich and vote to approve the Medicaid expansion.I believe that most of the opposition from conservative voters to this important improvement in the health care arena is connected with President Obama's Affordable Care Act. It was the only piece that the U.S. Supreme Court left for states to decide about individually.From the Christian point of view, it's the most important piece. Jesus would never have left "the least among them" to find cures for themselves. In Mark 2, a paralyzed man wants to be healed, but he can't get to Jesus. So four friends carried the paralyzed man to Jesus.Expanding Medicaid is to show compassion to the most vulnerable people. Expanding Medicaid is to take seriously the biblical model of being a good neighbor. How many low-income Americans with cancer, heart problems, or diabetes would live longer lives because they received early treatment? The U.S. is one of the very few industrialized countries in the world that has failed to provide health care to all of its citizens.Thank you, Governor Kasich, for lifting up this important change to health care for the most vulnerable, demonstrating the most basic foundation of our Christian faith, showing that loving your neighbor means more than just the rich, white, and powerful.
  • Misha Zinkow is Senior Rabbi at Temple Israel in Columbus, Ohio.The Jewish prophetic tradition teaches that we are all here to protect those who are at the margins of society. My own Reform movement of Judaism has long advocated for universal health care.In our Jewish tradition, we understand that providing health care is not only an obligation for an individual doctor, but for society as well. One of the greatest rabbis, who was also a physician, was Moses Maimonides. He was a medieval philosopher. He wrote in a text called Mishneh Torah that among the ten most important communal services that had to be offered by a city to its residents was health care.Following in his footsteps, there's a long history of self-governing Jewish communities that set up societies to ensure that all citizens had access to health care. Doctors were required to reduce rates for the poor, and provide free health care for patients who couldn't pay for it. There were also communal subsidies to make sure that health care could be provided to everyone in the community.Another text, the Shulchan Aruch, says, "If a physician withholds his services, he is considered to have shed blood." We as a society are the hands of God, and we're obligated to do this for all who are in need. So we simply have to ask ourselves, in honor and respect of all people who are created in the image of God—are we not all entitled to treatment and access to quality and affordable health care?
  • Rev. Richard Burnett is Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in Columbus, Ohio.Our bishop has instructed me to speak for him and for the Diocese of Southern Ohio, and by extension for all those who have signed a letter urging the passage of Medicaid expansion in Ohio, in support of the plan that Governor Kasich has presented, and in thanksgiving for his leadership.We have seven bishops, both active and retired, living this state, and all seven have signed on to that letter. When a person goes to seminary, you learn a couple of things that are absolutely urgent, and one of them is that when a bishop asks you to do something, you do it.We are a biblical church. We are a church that stands in tradition. But we also have a third leg on that stool. That third leg is called reason. It would be unreasonable for any Episcopalian not to be in support of this measure.But I have a higher authority. That’s my mother. Two years ago, my mother died at the age of 88 after spending three years in a very fine nursing facility here in this city. That nursing facility was supported and paid for by Medicaid. My mother, I believe, calls me to speak today. And, if you will, she calls you.
  • Rev. Timothy Ahrens is Senior Pastor at First Congregational Church, UCC in Columbus, Ohio, and is involved with the Central Ohio Medicaid Expansion Coalition.In our work, we are finding that the business community, hospitals, health care professionals, and people who care for people on the streets and in nursing homes across the state, are coming together in a coalition I have never seen the likes of before here in Ohio.We need Medicaid expansion. By doing this, we are making an investment in Ohio's families, in the state's economy, and in our work force. We need this to continue the growth path we're on as a state.We're on the right path, with the federal government paying 100 percent for newly-eligible Ohioans over the next three years, and gradually decreasing by 2020 to 90 percent.This expansion will bring $20 billion into Ohio, and these are your tax dollars. This is not just someone giving us a handout. This is your investment in the federal system coming back to help your people in your pews, in your neighborhoods, in your community.This is a great deal for the state. It will improve the health of Ohioans. It will extend care for over 275,000 people in the first two years. It will help our economy. The Ohio State study and other studies are showing this.Small business owners are gathering around this because they see that it will help them to cover costs for their employees.  The Ohio State study estimates that over 30,000 new jobs will come to Ohio in the next three years alone.Everyone wins with this expansion. We deeply appreciate that Governor Kasich has stepped forward to lead in this effort by including the expansion of Medicaid in his state budget. 
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Steve Palm-Houser is actively involved in social justice work and interfaith cooperation, both in his local community and nationally. He can be reached at  steve.palmhouser@gmail.com.

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