HEALTHCARE

About three million Ohioans, roughly a quarter of the state, are enrolled in Medicaid. In Allen County, where the median household income is well below the state average, Medicaid expansion has been a lifeline that cut the uninsured rate nearly in half. But Republican leadership in the Statehouse has repeatedly pushed work requirements and eligibility restrictions that would strip coverage from working families. Estimates range from 62,000 to 450,000 Ohioans who could lose coverage, not because they refuse to work, but because of paperwork barriers.

• About 3 million Ohioans are enrolled in Medicaid, roughly a quarter of the state's population. Enrollment is highest in urban counties and Appalachia. Signal Cleveland, Jan 2025
• Work requirements could affect 62,000 Ohioans (state estimate) to 450,000 (Center for Community Solutions estimate). Signal Cleveland, Jan 2025
• Allen County's uninsured rate dropped from approximately 14% to roughly 7% after Medicaid expansion took effect in 2014. U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Health Insurance Estimates

Lima is fortunate to still have two hospital systems. But across rural Ohio, hospitals are closing, cutting services, and losing staff. Ohio ranks in the bottom third of states for primary care physicians per capita in rural counties, and the shortage means longer wait times even in communities that still have facilities. Patients who need specialized care face longer drives, higher costs, and fewer options. The state has not made the investments needed to stop the bleeding.

• Dozens of Ohio rural hospitals have been flagged as financially vulnerable in annual assessments. Chartis Center for Rural Health, Rural Hospital Vulnerability Reports
• Ohio ranks in the bottom third of states for primary care physicians per capita in rural counties. Health Resources and Services Administration, Health Professional Shortage Area Designations

Allen County has been one of the hardest-hit communities in Ohio's overdose epidemic, which has killed more than 50,000 Ohioans since 2010. The crisis has evolved but not ended. Fentanyl, methamphetamine, and polysubstance use continue to devastate families, and there are not enough treatment beds or behavioral health providers to meet the need. The Allen County ADAMH Board has reported persistent gaps in residential treatment capacity, with people waiting days or weeks for an open bed. State funding for treatment and recovery has not matched the scale of the problem.

• Ohio recorded over 5,000 unintentional drug overdose deaths in 2023, and Allen County's per-capita rate has consistently exceeded the state average. Ohio Department of Health, Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System
• The Allen County ADAMH Board has reported persistent gaps in residential treatment capacity, with individuals waiting days or weeks for an open bed. Allen County ADAMH Board Public Reports; Lima News

Ohio ranks among the worst states in the nation for maternal and infant mortality, and the crisis is especially acute in rural and small-city communities. Black mothers in Ohio die at roughly 2.5 times the rate of white mothers. More than half of rural Ohio counties are classified as maternity care deserts, meaning residents must travel 30 or more minutes to reach obstetric services. Access to OB-GYN care in rural counties continues to shrink as providers leave and hospitals cut maternity units.

• Ohio's infant mortality rate was 6.9 per 1,000 live births in 2022, among the highest in the nation. The rate for Black infants was approximately 14 per 1,000. Ohio Department of Health, Annual Infant Mortality Report
• More than 50% of rural Ohio counties are classified as maternity care deserts or areas with limited access to maternity care. March of Dimes, Maternity Care Deserts Report