Article

State Budget Priorities 2024-25 from The Center for Community Solutions

January 23, 2023
Read time:
Download Fact Sheets
Register now
Share this resource
Subscribe to our Newsletter
By subscribing you agree to with our Privacy Policy.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Download this as a PDF

As we embark on a new year and the 135th General Assembly, The Center for Community Solutions has laid out a set of priorities for the 2024-2025 state budget that closely align with our organizational policy priority areas and build upon progress made to date. Our budget priorities are responsive to the fact that we’re still dealing with COVID-19 and all of the challenges that came with it and they try to address longstanding, structural, racial, and economic disparities that have become even more apparent over the last three years. Be sure to check out John Corlett's accompanying piece on successful budget advocacy.  

Our budget priorities also recognize upcoming changes for Ohio’s Medicaid program, a reduction in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits after February, the expected end of the public health emergency later in the spring, and a continued need to support people across the lifespan with services and supports that promote health, safety and wellbeing. John Corlett has written an accompanying piece on successful budget advocacy.

Medicaid

Building on progress to date with Medicaid expansion in Ohio to people with incomes at or below 138 percent of the federal poverty level and expanded coverage for people who have given birth from 60 days postpartum to 12 months, we support moving to continuous Medicaid coverage for children up to six years old. We know that churn in the Medicaid program, when someone comes on and off the program, is detrimental to their health and well-being, especially for children. In addition, increasing general Medicaid eligibility up to 300 percent of the federal poverty line for families and children will reduce this churn.

 We support moving to continuous Medicaid coverage for children up to six years old.

In the midst of the state budget, we will also be closely monitoring the end of continuous eligibility in Medicaid which has been a mainstay during the pandemic. Continuous eligibility will end in the spring and the associated enhanced matching dollars from the federal government phase out over the course of the calendar year; monitoring the “unwinding” of this policy will be a high priority for advocates.

Health and Human Services Safety Net

Building on increased awareness of the impact of complex student loans and student loan debt, Community Solutions will seek to create a student loan ombudsman at the state level that will help students and Ohioans with student debt to navigate the complex system upon graduation and beyond. We also see this as a potential source of support to employers and a workforce retention tool, as this office could provide invaluable guidance around Public Service Loan Forgiveness and other ways in which employers can support their employees manage student debt. This support could be particularly helpful to public sector and nonprofit employers who are struggling to retain staff.  

In addition to Medicaid changes, the end of supplemental benefits in SNAP will have an immediate and direct impact of Ohio families. This, and other changes as pandemic supports end, means we will have to keenly monitor impacts on families and children and identify ways to mitigate harm, all of which will be happening in the midst of state budget negotiations.

 The end of supplemental benefits in SNAP will have an immediate and direct impact of Ohio families; we will have to keenly monitor impacts on families and children.

Behavioral Health

We continue to support the full implementation of OhioRISE, Ohio Medicaid’s program that provides comprehensive care for children with complex needs or multi-system youth. To date OhioRISE has enrolled nearly 15,000 children and youth, with aims to reach 60,000. As OhioRISE is fully implemented, it is imperative that any remaining gaps in care and support are identified and addressed, with flexible state funding intact.

 We continue to support the full implementation of OhioRISE, Ohio Medicaid’s program that provides comprehensive care for children with complex needs or multi-system youth.

Community Solutions also seeks to build upon progress to date in supporting harm reduction in Ohio. We are seeking additional funding dedicated to harm reduction in the existing line item at the Ohio Department of Health. This includes, but is not limited to, syringe services programs, naloxone distribution, and fentanyl test strips.

Older Adults

At the end of the 134th General Assembly, Ohio approved the expansion of the Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly or PACE, a managed care program that provides older adults with all of their medical and health needs in a coordinated, wraparound model. Community Solutions will monitor the implementation of the PACE expansion and ensure it is reaching those most in need of services.

 We will work alongside others to further increase support for adult protective services, especially in light of increased social isolation as a result of the pandemic.

We have long supported adequate funding for the adult protective services system. Building on progress made in the last state budget, we will work alongside others to further increase support for adult protective services, especially in light of increased social isolation as a result of the pandemic.

Women’s and Children’s Health

Community Solutions dedicated significant time and attention in the last General Assembly to expanding and diversifying the perinatal workforce. We know this will have a direct, positive impact in addressing racial disparities in outcomes for women and babies across this state. This work will continue in the 135th General Assembly as we seek Medicaid reimbursement for doula services and certification of midwives to practice in Ohio. We see this as consistent with Governor DeWine’s commitment to making Ohio the most family-friendly state.

 Medicaid reimbursement for doula services and certification of midwives is consistent with Governor DeWine’s commitment to making Ohio the most family-friendly state.

We are also committed to improving access to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) in Ohio, building upon the groundwork that we have laid, along with partner organizations, over the last year.

Download Fact Sheets

District 10

Download

All Council Districts 2024

Download

District 4

Download

District 2

Download

District 11

Download

District 9

Download

District 8

Download

District 5

Download

District 7

Download

District 1

Download

District 3

Download

District 6

Download

West Boulevard

Download

University

Download

Union-Miles

Download

Tremont

Download

Stockyards

Download

St.Clair-Superior

Download

Old Brooklyn

Download

Ohio City

Download

North Shore Collinwood

Download

Mount Pleasant

Download

Lee-Seville

Download

Lee-Harvard

Download

Kinsman

Download

Kamm's Corners

Download

Jefferson

Download

Goodrich-Kirtland Park

Download

Glenville

Download

Fairfax

Download

Euclid-Green

Download

Edgewater

Download

Downtown

Download

Detroit Shoreway

Download

Cudell

Download

Collinwood-Nottingham

Download

Clark-Fulton

Download

Central

Download

Buckeye-Woodhill

Download

Buckeye-Shaker Square

Download

Brooklyn Centre

Download

Broadway-Slavic Village

Download

Bellaire-Puritas

Download

All Neighborhoods 2024

Download

West Boulevard Factsheet

Download

University Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Union-Miles Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Tremont Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Stockyards Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

St. Clair-Superior Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Old Brooklyn Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Ohio City Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

North Shore Collinwood Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Mount Pleasant Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Lee-Seville Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Lee-Harvard Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Kinsman Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Kamm's Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Jefferson Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Hough Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Hopkins Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Goodrich-Kirtland Park Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Glenville Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Fairfax Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Euclid-Green Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Edgewater Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Downtown Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Detroit Shoreway Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Cuyahoga Valley Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Cudell Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Collinwood-Nottingham Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Clark-Fulton Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Central Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Buckeye-Shaker Square Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Brooklyn Centre Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Broadway-Slavic Village Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

Bellaire-Puritas Neighborhood Factsheet

Download

All Neighborhoods 2016

Download

District 2

Download

District 1

Download

Ohio Women Statewide

Download

All Women Fact Sheets

Download

Wyandot Women

Download

Wood Women

Download

Williams Women

Download

Wayne Women

Download

Washington Women

Download

Warren Women

Download

Vinton Women

Download

Van Wert Women

Download

Union Women

Download

Tuscarawas Women

Download

Trumbell Women

Download

Summit Women

Download

Stark Women

Download

Shelby Women

Download

Seneca Women

Download

Scioto Women

Download

Sandusky Women

Download
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Download report

Subscribe to our newsletter

5 Things you need to know arrives on Mondays with the latest articles, events, and advocacy developments in Ohio

Explore the fact sheets

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique.

No Related Fact Sheets

Explore Topics

Browse articles, research, and testimony.

Poverty & Safety Net
Article

Sixty-one health and human service levies appear on ballots across Ohio

Kyle Thompson
October 21, 2024
Medicaid
Article

Setting the Medicaid Growth Rate

Brandy Davis
October 21, 2024
Poverty & Safety Net
Article

Staying nonpartisan when everyone is talking about the upcoming election

Emily Campbell
October 21, 2024
Older Adults
Article

Council on Older Persons (COOP): Older adults ensure strong neighborhoods

Community Solutions Team
October 17, 2024