Sutton introduces Cordray health care plan in Toledo

Blade, The (Toledo, OH)

July 26--Betty Sutton, Richard Cordray's running mate, on Wednesday laid out the Democratic gubernatorial candidate's platform for health care, which includes keeping Medicaid expansion, investing in preventive care, and increasing transparency to keep costs low.

"Ohio shouldn't be a place where families who are working hard and struggling have to choose between health care and other necessities," Ms. Sutton told a small group at That Neighborhood Free Health Clinic in Toledo. "We really are a great state, and we can deliver a system that will work with people to reduce those costs and ensure the reliability of the care and coverage that they need."

The platform emphasized priorities but did not offer dollar amounts for things such as ensuring all mothers have access to prenatal care and supporting early intervention programs for children. Both objectives are part of Mr. Cordray's "Reduced Costs, Reliable Coverage Plan" released this week.

The plan also lists measures such as recruiting and retaining more health-care professionals, utilizing technology such as "telehealth," and investing in "outreach and enrollment opportunities so all Ohioans know their coverage options."

Medicaid expansion under Gov. John Kasich, part of the Affordable Care Act that has provided 700,000 people with health-care coverage in the midst of the opioid crisis and challenging economy, has been a major focus of the governor's race and a top issue for voters. Mr. Cordray established his support for Medicaid expansion early in his campaign.

Ms. Sutton said the programs would be covered by the savings from cost-cutting transparency and oversight measures. She cited as a target pharmacy benefit managers -- so-called pharmacy middlemen -- who are accused of driving up the cost of prescription drugs in government-sponsored plans.

"These middlemen aren't really adding value for our folks out there in our communities," she said. "It's a few cents here and a few cents there, but millions of dollars at the end of the day, and Rich and I think it's really important to rein that in."

Mr. Cordray's Republican opponent, Attorney General Mike DeWine, also wants to hold pharmacy middlemen accountable, his spokesman Joshua Eck said.

As attorney general, Mr. DeWine is conducting an investigation into the companies that manage drug benefits for Medicaid and tax-funded insurance programs.

Mr. DeWine, who has said he supports Medicaid expansion, would impose requirements for the program, such as a work requirement for those able and more preventive and wellness measures for recipients, Mr. Eck said.

Mr. Eck criticized Mr. Cordray's plan for "giving us a list of the problems that the state faces, but not really proposing any tangible moves to solve those problems."

Contact Liz Skalka at [email protected], 419-724-6199, or on Twitter @lizskalka.

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