Ohio advocates for the mentally ill are upset with their erstwhile ally Gov. Ted Strickland:

A Strickland administration initiative designed to reduce Medicaid spending on costly psychotropic drugs could actually cost the state money in the long run, a new study concludes.

The administration touted savings up to $47 million by requiring pre-authorization for a handful of specialized drugs used primarily to treat bi-polar disorder, schizophrenia and other serious mental-health conditions.

The study mentioned was commissioned by the National Alliance on Mental Illness Ohio and concluded that this policy could end up costing the state up to $39 million annually. I have doubts that it will end up being this expensive, but I can see their point about being penny wise and pound foolish.

What this really points to is the fact that Ohio Medicaid is a mess. Right now the Strickland administration is both trying to expand eligibility for the program but also taking steps to cut expenses. Without overall Medicaid reform this type of interest group bickering will only intensify as Medicaid consumes an ever-larger share of state spending.