FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Christine Mulvin
513-458-6621

CINCINNATI—MAY 4, 2005—Results from The Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati's Ohio Health Issues Poll show a large majority of those surveyed in favor of increasing alcohol (81 percent), tobacco (76 percent) and state sales taxes (60 percent) to pay for what the public perceives as an important form of health insurance: Medicaid.

"The Health Foundation has always encouraged and supported data-driven healthcare decisions at a local level," said Don Hoffman, president and CEO. "And because so many state-level decisions affect our community, the Ohio Health Issues Poll is a natural extension, providing data to all of the people who make those decisions."

The poll was conducted in conjunction with the Ohio Poll, a survey by the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Cincinnati.

Medicaid: A Hot Button among Ohioans

Survey respondents were asked questions about who should receive Medicaid coverage; what they would eliminate from the budget in order to pay for Medicaid; and what they themselves would pay to keep Medicaid coverage for eligible Ohioans who otherwise would not have health insurance. Of the people surveyed, 86 percent had some type of health insurance and 14 percent were uninsured. More than 15 percent of the people with insurance were covered by Ohio Medicaid.

Ohioans were clear that Medicaid was a necessity: Over 90 percent of Ohioans surveyed felt that it was very important for Ohio Medicaid to cover:

• Elderly (86 percent)
• Children (81 percent)
• Disabled adults (77 percent)
• Low-income working parents (71 percent)
• Low-income pregnant women (65 percent)

In addition, 74 percent of Ohioans don't want to reduce the number of those covered by Medicaid and 66 percent don't want to reduce the services provided by Medicaid.

When given the option on what budgetary items to reduce spending on, respondents were against spending less on:

• State aid for public schools, 80 percent
• Public security, 70 percent
• Temporary cash assistance, 63 percent
• State aid for higher education, 60 percent.

Respondents were in favor of spending less on:

• State aid to cities and local governments, 57 percent
• Highway programs, 54 percent

When asked what they would most like to see Ohio lawmakers choose to pay for Medicaid, 61 percent of Ohioans surveyed said increase cigarette or alcohol taxes.

The Ohio Health Issues Poll will be conducted once a year in partnership with the Institute for Policy Research and will cover a variety of topics, including insurance status, concerns about healthcare coverage, healthcare services, and others. Findings from other questions from the March-April Ohio Health Issues Poll will be forthcoming.

For more information about the Ohio Health Issues Poll, to see the poll in its entirety or to suggest topics for future surveys, please visit www.healthfoundation.org/ohip.

The Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati is an independent foundation dedicated to improving community health and access to health care for vulnerable populations. The Foundation awards grants to non-profit and governmental organizations for selected health programs and activities in Cincinnati and 20 surrounding counties in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. In 2004, the Health Foundation invested approximately $10.5 million to support local health care programs that address the objectives of the Foundation's four focus areas and general community health.

These findings are based on the most recent Ohio Poll conducted by the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Cincinnati from March 21 to April 10, 2005.

A random sample of 846 adults from throughout the state was interviewed by telephone. In 95 of 100 cases, the statewide estimates will be accurate to plus or minus 3.4 percent.

In addition to sampling error, there are other sources of variation inherent in public opinion studies, such as non-response, question wording, or context effects that can introduce error or bias.