Northeast Ohio Medical University recently froze hiring, restructured leadership and launched a committee on “efficiency and value” to prepare for possible changes from the state.The university’s initiative started this month as Ohio lawmakers develop the state’s two-year budget and Gov. John Kasich continues to push public colleges and universities to lower costs and make tuition more affordable.The governor recently formed the Task Force on Affordability and Efficiency in Higher Education, which is supposed to issue a report by October.There’s also a proposal pending in the state legislature to reduce tuition by 5 percent at all state universities.“We wanted to take these additional measures in advance of any recommendations that are offered by the task force,” Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) spokesman Roderick Ingram said.About 37 percent of NEOMED’s estimated $53 million annual operating budget comes from state funding, John Wray, vice president for administration and finance, said.