Establishes a program to provide higher Medicaid payments to rural hospitals in Ohio.

The Healthier Rural Hospitals Act creates a program where hospitals in Ohio counties with fewer than 100,000 residents receive higher payments from Medicaid managed care organizations. The Department of Medicaid calculates a score for each county based on health metrics, including cancer deaths, poverty levels, and chronic disease rates. The lowest-ranked counties are eligible for the program, with payments set at 150% of the statewide average for the top ten counties and 125% for the next ten. The program will last two years from its effective date.

Establishes a program to provide higher Medicaid payments to rural hospitals in Ohio.

The Healthier Rural Hospitals Act creates a program where hospitals in Ohio counties with fewer than 100,000 residents receive higher payments from Medicaid managed care organizations. The Department of Medicaid calculates a score for each county based on health metrics, including cancer deaths, poverty levels, and chronic disease rates. The lowest-ranked counties are eligible for the program, with payments set at 150% of the statewide average for the top ten counties and 125% for the next ten. The program will last two years from its effective date.