Rep. Dovilla: Medicaid Audit Reveals Troubling Culture of Complacency

State Representative Mike Dovilla (R-Berea) today expressed serious concerns following the release of the Ohio Auditor of State’s performance audit of the Ohio Department of Medicaid, which revealed significant shortcomings in the management and oversight of one of the state’s largest programs. 

The audit identified more than $145 million in contract costs exceeding original estimates, ongoing problems with the system used to determine Medicaid eligibility, and a lack of a comprehensive strategic plan for a program spending more than $40 billion annually. 

“Perhaps most telling, when auditors came looking for answers, the Department made them jump through another layer of bureaucracy rather than speak directly with employees who knew the answers,” said Dovilla. “Apparently, they had a process for managing the auditors, but not a comprehensive plan for managing the program.” 

“This is what happens when complacency becomes part of the culture: plenty of paperwork, plenty of procedures, but precious little urgency to fix what isn’t working,” Dovilla continued. 

“Ohioans who rely on Medicaid deserve effective services, and taxpayers deserve responsible management of their hard-earned dollars,” said Dovilla. “The Department must deliver a clear plan to correct these failures, with firm deadlines, measurable results, and genuine transparency.” 

“Government should be measured by the problems it solves, not the paperwork it produces,” Dovilla concluded.