The Ohio Health Issues Poll, commissioned by the Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati, concluded that 69 percent of Ohioans believe a public option would benefit the health care system.
"What the public thinks is in a different place from what the noise is about right now," said Pat O'Connor, V.P. and C.O.O. of the Health Foundation.
Forty nine percent of those surveyed said a public option would improve the health care system and 20 percent said that it would significantly improve the health care system.
The 69 percent combined number stands in contrast to what the foundation says has been portrayed in the media.
"What we're seeing the average Ohioan say is very different from what we're seeing in the media," said Jennifer Chubinski the Director of Health Data Improvement at HFGC.
Eric Rademacher and the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Cincinnati conducted the study in September.
"As you look across the board at the different polls you pretty much see somewhere in the neighborhood of 55 to 65 percent on average who are saying that, yes, they would like to see further government involvement," said Rademacher.
"There are polls across the country that show differing results," said Kelly McGivern President and C.E.O. of Ohio Health Plans.
McGivern represents the interests of insurance companies in Columbus.
"I think there's just a general skepticism about whether government is really the best agent to help control costs," said McGivern.
While the debate is not split 50-50, it is generally split along party lines.
"What we found is very consistent with what you see nationally. When you start to talk about health care reform Democrats are very much behind many of the broad range of issues that come up in the reform conversation. Republicans are very much against," said Rademacher.
