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05/02/2019

LeadingAge Ohio Supports Quality Measures for Nursing Homes, Increases in Assisted Living Waiver and PASSPORT Rates in House Budget

LeadingAge Ohio Supports Quality Measures for Nursing Homes, Increases in Assisted Living Waiver and PASSPORT Rates in House Budget

May 2, 2019

COLUMBUS - LeadingAge Ohio came out in support of decisions made by the Ohio House of Representatives in the House budget, state operating budget sub HB 166, which will provide additional quality measures for nursing homes to increase funding, and a modest increase in the Assisted Living Waiver and PASSPORT rates. LeadingAge Ohio has been at the forefront of advocacy efforts to push for critical increases in these reimbursements on behalf of the aging Ohioans we serve daily. 

LeadingAge Ohio has worked aggressively to Increase the quality of care provided by nursing homes statewide amid a workforce crisis in aging services. 

"In recent years, Medicaid funding for nursing facilities has been essentially stagnant," said Kathryn Brod, President/CEO of LeadingAge Ohio. "In spite of this, our members have continued to increase quality. We support payment reforms that recognize improved outcomes."

In recent months, LeadingAge Ohio members have spent time speaking with members of the Ohio House of Representatives to advocate for a strengthening of the Ohio Assisted Living Waiver, which hasn't seen an increase in over a decade, and an increase in funding for Personal Care Services and Enhanced Community Living under Passport, which are badly needed to address the workforce crisis in long-term care. 

"Ohio's PASSPORT and assisted living waivers are the best tools we have to rebalance Ohio's long term care system," said Brod. "Every individual served in home-and community-based services is one fewer in a higher-cost care setting, and we are pleased the House recognized the importance of trying to move reimbursement to help address the workforce crisis. We look forward to further discussing these issues with our partners in the Ohio Senate."

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