Supporters of expanding the Medicaid program to include more low-income people are urging Ohio lawmakers to restore the proposal to the state budget.
The group Advocates for Ohio's Future said Tuesday that it's open to separate legislation that achieves the same goal, as long as it's passed by June 30, the same deadline the budget faces.
The governor's budget proposal called for an expansion of Medicaid under the federal health care law. But the Legislature has largely kept the idea separate from the budget bill.
State lawmakers continue to examine ways to change the federal-state program for the poor and disabled, and leaders haven't set a deadline for action.
The state's Medicaid director has said an expansion of the program would take six months to implement.