Rep. Mike Dovilla Introduces Bill to Address Medicaid Eligibility Failures, Curb Billions in Improper Payments

State Representative Mike Dovilla (R-Berea) has introduced legislation to address serious gaps in Ohio’s Medicaid eligibility verification process, following preliminary findings from a legislative probe revealing the state may be disbursing more than $6 billion annually to individuals who do not meet program requirements.

House Bill 356 calls for an independent audit of Ohio’s Aged, Blind, and Disabled (ABD) Medicaid eligibility group, the establishment of a corrective action plan to recover and reduce improper spending, and the implementation of an electronic asset verification system to strengthen accountability across the program.

“The time for vague assurances is over. The scope of this problem demands a full audit and measurable corrective action,” said Dovilla. “Ohio’s Medicaid program must be reserved for those who genuinely qualify—and taxpayers have every right to expect their dollars are being spent wisely, not squandered by bureaucratic inertia.”

Key provisions of the bill include:

• A formal data-sharing agreement between the Ohio Department of Medicaid and the Auditor of State.
• A complete audit of Medicaid enrollees in the ABD category, with a specific focus on asset eligibility limits.
• A mandate for the Department of Medicaid to implement a plan that reduces Medicaid spending in the ABD category by $2.4 billion during the biennium.
• Immediate disenrollment of ineligible individuals identified in the audit.
  Creation of a secure, electronic asset verification system for all ABD applicants and enrollees.
• This legislation follows Rep. Dovilla’s ongoing investigation into eligibility oversight, which has already drawn national attention from media outlets and public officials. The bill also appropriates $5 million in funding to support the state auditor’s efforts.

“This legislation is a direct result of concerns raised by Ohioans—and a response to an agency that has yet to provide basic answers to serious questions,” Dovilla added. “It is time to restore public confidence by ensuring integrity and transparency in one of our state’s most costly programs.”

House Bill 356 will now be referred to a standing committee for further consideration.