Press Release
$122.2 Million in Medicaid Savings Overlooked
April 29, 2009
Columbus - Auditor of State Mary Taylor today said ideas to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Ohio’s Medicaid program and save hundreds of millions of dollars in the process continues to be overlooked by state policy makers at a time when Ohio’s budget is in distress.
Members of the Ohio House disregarded a proposal to implement several recommendations from the Auditor of State’s Medicaid Performance audit with potential savings to Ohio taxpayers of $122.2 million annually.
“I have been asked, ‘What would you cut?’ to solve the state’s budget crisis,” Taylor said. “Since I took office, I have discussed practical solutions and proven practices from the Medicaid Performance audit that could result in hundreds of millions in program savings. Unfortunately my solutions to save tax dollars and make Medicaid more efficient and effective continue to be ignored.”
The proposal, offered as an amendment to the state budget by Representative Barbara Sears (R-Sylvania), includes eight Medicaid performance audit recommendations. Three of those recommendations would result in annual savings of $122.2 million. They are:
Full implementation of a statewide E-prescribing program – $62.2 million
Implementation of a disease management program for certain Medicaid recipients – $54 million
Coordination of benefits for Medicaid recipients who also belong to a private health insurance plan – $6 million
The five remaining recommendations from the Auditor of State’s performance audit would result in improvements to management efficiencies if implemented.
As a state legislator in 2005, Taylor introduced a measure that was included in the state’s biennial budget bill directing the Auditor of State to conduct a performance audit of Medicaid.
The initial performance audit, released in December 2006, provided the incoming administration with 109 recommendations to improve Ohio’s Medicaid program and cut costs without slashing critical services. The original recommendations, if fully implemented, had the potential to save taxpayers more than $400 million annually.
A subsequent Medicaid status report update, released by Taylor in December 2008, identified 54 recommendations – totaling more than $302.8 million – that have not been implemented.
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http://www.auditor.state.oh.us/NewsCenter/Press/Release.aspx?ReleaseID=685
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
3 Dems found guilty of Voter fraud
I wanted to post this article for all those that cast this blog into the fire last year when a "plan" was posted exposing the possibility of voter fraud. Looks like the dems were the only ones to actually commit voter fraud.
3 voting advocates guilty
By Barbara Carmen
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
1 hour ago
Three staff members for Vote Today Ohio, an independent get-out-the-vote organization supporting Barack Obama, pleaded guilty in Franklin County this afternoon to improper voting. The three came to Ohio from states where Obama was likely to win in an effort to swing Ohio's electoral college vote toward their candidate, Judge Charles A. Schneider said. The judge gave all three 60 days in jail but suspended it if they paid a $1,000 fine. He also ordered a year's probation.
The three are Daniel Hausman, 32, and Amy Little, 50, both of New York, and Yolanda Hippensteele, 30, of California. They told the court they had good intentions when they registered to vote and cast ballots the same day in early voting at Veterans Memorial.
"I was paying rent and living full-time in Ohio," Hippensteele told the judge, "I didn't attempt to vote in another state. ... I think it's all a misunderstanding. I have a profound respect for the voting process."
Assistant Prosecutor Brian Simms said the three later tried to rescind their registration and cancel their votes; two were successful. Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien had warned visiting campaign staff members that they shouldn't vote here if they didn't plan to stay after the election.
Schneider told the three that "rescinding your request is like giving back the money once you've been caught."
http://mobile.dispatch.com/articles/191344561
3 voting advocates guilty
By Barbara Carmen
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
1 hour ago
Three staff members for Vote Today Ohio, an independent get-out-the-vote organization supporting Barack Obama, pleaded guilty in Franklin County this afternoon to improper voting. The three came to Ohio from states where Obama was likely to win in an effort to swing Ohio's electoral college vote toward their candidate, Judge Charles A. Schneider said. The judge gave all three 60 days in jail but suspended it if they paid a $1,000 fine. He also ordered a year's probation.
The three are Daniel Hausman, 32, and Amy Little, 50, both of New York, and Yolanda Hippensteele, 30, of California. They told the court they had good intentions when they registered to vote and cast ballots the same day in early voting at Veterans Memorial.
"I was paying rent and living full-time in Ohio," Hippensteele told the judge, "I didn't attempt to vote in another state. ... I think it's all a misunderstanding. I have a profound respect for the voting process."
Assistant Prosecutor Brian Simms said the three later tried to rescind their registration and cancel their votes; two were successful. Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien had warned visiting campaign staff members that they shouldn't vote here if they didn't plan to stay after the election.
Schneider told the three that "rescinding your request is like giving back the money once you've been caught."
http://mobile.dispatch.com/articles/191344561
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
No Pork for Austria!
Here is an article from the Dayton Daily News. Looks like Congressman Austria is taking a stand against Pork!
No earmark requests for Austria
By Jessica Wehrman | Tuesday, April 21, 2009, 12:06 PM
His predecessor was once referred to as “Porker of the Month” by an anti-earmark watchdog, but if U.S. Rep. Steve Austria aims to fill former U.S. Rep. Dave Hobson’s earmark-securing shoes, he ain’t doing it this year.
U.S. House members were asked to post all their earmark requests on their websites earlier this year. For Austria, R-Beavercreek, it was easy: He hasn’t asked for any earmarks.
Austria spokeswoman Courtney Whetstone said Austria opted not to request any earmarks because of the current economic climate.
As for the rest of the delegation: House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-West Chester, makes it a policy not to request earmarks. U.S. Reps. Jim Jordan, R-Urbana, asked for three, one in Lima, one in Mansfield and one in Findlay and U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt, R-Loveland, asked for two, one in Cincinnati and one for a corridor between Cincinnati and Clermont County. U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, R-Centerville, meanwhile, requested nearly 50, many benefitting Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, which also adjacent to Austria’s district.
No earmark requests for Austria
By Jessica Wehrman | Tuesday, April 21, 2009, 12:06 PM
His predecessor was once referred to as “Porker of the Month” by an anti-earmark watchdog, but if U.S. Rep. Steve Austria aims to fill former U.S. Rep. Dave Hobson’s earmark-securing shoes, he ain’t doing it this year.
U.S. House members were asked to post all their earmark requests on their websites earlier this year. For Austria, R-Beavercreek, it was easy: He hasn’t asked for any earmarks.
Austria spokeswoman Courtney Whetstone said Austria opted not to request any earmarks because of the current economic climate.
As for the rest of the delegation: House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-West Chester, makes it a policy not to request earmarks. U.S. Reps. Jim Jordan, R-Urbana, asked for three, one in Lima, one in Mansfield and one in Findlay and U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt, R-Loveland, asked for two, one in Cincinnati and one for a corridor between Cincinnati and Clermont County. U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, R-Centerville, meanwhile, requested nearly 50, many benefitting Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, which also adjacent to Austria’s district.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Upcoming Panel Discussion
Many of you attended the recent Dayton tax day tea party to take a stand against big spending on every level of government. The huge impending deficit and economic death spiral our country is in is quite possibly the biggest and most destructive issue our generation faces. We all agree, the time to take a stand- to make a difference, is now. With one of the highest unemployment rates in the country and pathetic economic situations- Ohio faces huge economic obstacles and it is sure to be the number 1 issue in the 2010 OH elections. However, we have to understand the issues if we're going to change anything. So this is your chance to get a full report on the state of the state of Ohio- on Monday April 27th you are invited to attend a forum discussion with OH House Rep from the 70th district, Jarrod Martin. Rep Martin took office in Jan 09 and hit the ground running with discussion, revision and the passing of the 09 OH State budget. He will be speaking on the Transportation Bill, the General Budget and how it was effected by the money OHIO took from the Economic Stimulus Bill passed. Join fellow YR's from Montgomery and Greene counties at Montgomery Co Republican headquarters at 369 W. First St in Dayton Suite 200 at 7pm.
Come prepared to ask questions and weigh in on our economic future.
If you have any questions please let me know.
Come prepared to ask questions and weigh in on our economic future.
If you have any questions please let me know.
Monday, April 13, 2009
GCYR Upcoming events
Hello all,
Hope everyone is staying dry during these April Showers. Had an excellent meeting last week at Beef O'Brady's. Thanks to everyone who attended and a special thank you to our new members from Bellbrook! Couple of upcoming events to keep in mind....
April 15th : Dayton Tea Party -Please let me know if you are planning to attend.
April 20th : Greene County GOP lunch at Beef O' Bradys beginning at Noon.
May 5th: Next Greene County YR meeting. 7 pm at Beef O'Bradys.
Hope to see everyone at the upcoming events.
"I inhaled. That was the point."- Barack Obama
Zach Upton
GCYR President
www.gcyr.blogspot.com
Hope everyone is staying dry during these April Showers. Had an excellent meeting last week at Beef O'Brady's. Thanks to everyone who attended and a special thank you to our new members from Bellbrook! Couple of upcoming events to keep in mind....
April 15th : Dayton Tea Party -Please let me know if you are planning to attend.
April 20th : Greene County GOP lunch at Beef O' Bradys beginning at Noon.
May 5th: Next Greene County YR meeting. 7 pm at Beef O'Bradys.
Hope to see everyone at the upcoming events.
"I inhaled. That was the point."- Barack Obama
Zach Upton
GCYR President
www.gcyr.blogspot.com
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