Join the LeadingAge Ohio and National policy teams on Monday, July 21, at 10:00AM and get up to speed on all of the action happening in Washington, DC. You’ll hear news and insights from Mollie Gurian, LeadingAge’s VP of Policy and Government Affairs, as she gives a rundown of post-budget reconciliation activity by both Congress and the administration, and what to watch out for next. Register for Advocacy in Action here. The Ohio Department of Aging will soon begin its 2025–2026 Resident and Family Satisfaction Surveys for nursing and assisted living facilities. Conducted by Vital Research and Scripps Gerontology Center, these surveys gather confidential feedback to improve the quality of care and help families make informed decisions. Results will be shared with providers and posted publicly on the Ohio Long-Term Care Quality Navigator.
Resident interviews begin in August 2025 and will continue through March 2026. Family surveys will follow by mail, phone, or online from September through April. Facilities must update resident and representative contact information and work with Vital to schedule interviews. All identifying information must be submitted through the secure online portal, not email, to comply with privacy laws.
Facilities can find survey instructions, outreach templates, and a detailed timeline at vitalresearch.com/ohsurvey. The full notification letter is available here. Top You Asked: Why did the ADL Decline Quality Measure trigger when the resident was coded as dependent in all four late-loss ADLs on the prior MDS?
We Answered: At first glance, it may seem that a resident coded as dependent in all four late-loss ADLs on the prior MDS should not trigger the ADL decline quality measure. While this level of dependence does meet one of the exclusion criteria, the timing of the prior assessment is also critical.
For a prior assessment to be used in the ADL decline calculation, there must be a gap of at least 46 days between the prior MDS and the target MDS. If the gap is 45 days or less, that assessment is excluded, and the system searches for an earlier assessment that meets the timing requirement. If that earlier MDS shows the resident was functioning at a higher level, the measure may trigger, even though the most recent prior assessment showed total dependence. Top As workforce shortages persist across the aging services sector, immigration policy—both current and proposed—continues to influence the availability and stability of care teams. To better understand the experiences of members, LeadingAge Ohio has launched a short, two-minute survey aimed at capturing how immigration-related issues are affecting providers statewide. Whether your organization currently employs foreign-born staff, is exploring sponsorship, or has yet to be impacted, your input is critical. Your feedback will help inform advocacy priorities, guide educational offerings, and shape workforce development strategies.
In addition, LeadingAge has released an updated immigration enforcement preparedness resource. This guide is designed to help members prepare for potential interactions with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and ensure organizational readiness. Members are encouraged to review the resource and share any feedback to further strengthen support efforts.
Click here to take the 2-minute survey and inform our understanding of current workforce shortages and upcoming workforce initiatives. Questions? Contact Randi Hamill, Director of Workforce Development and Initiatives, at rhamill@leadingageohio.org. LeadingAge Ohio nursing home member providers have exclusive membership to the Ohio Aging Services Network (OASN) - a managed care contracting network that provides highly competitive reimbursement and contracts for members. The network handles the negotiations and provides the management and support so members can focus on what matters most: resident care. The network also offers opportunities for peer-to-peer learning and improved quality metrics. With OASN, members can expect:
- Stronger partnerships with managed care plans that enhance members’ ability to provide better care
- The potential to negotiate payment incentives and value-based contracts
- Robust quality programs and benchmarking to improve overall quality performance
- Opportunities to accept more referrals through contracts with multiple health plans
Learn more about OASN here. Questions about joining OASN may be directed to Susan Wallace at swallace@leadingageohio.org.
OASN will conduct its annual meeting at the LeadingAge Ohio Conference on August 26 at 4:30PM, which will include insights into senior living trends in Ohio and nationwide. A reception will immediately follow the annual meeting. Last Friday, LeadingAge Ohio took part in the Ohio MyCare Advisory Council meeting, where state partners shared updates with direct implications for aging services providers across the continuum.
Among the highlights, the state is developing a new standardized training for Area Agency on Aging (AAA) case managers, focused on improving consistency around waiver services, covered benefits, and applicable rules. Importantly, the state emphasized that this information must also reach consumers, empowering them to better understand their rights.
The MyCare waiver’s self-direction option is expanding, giving members—including those under age 60—greater control in selecting and managing their own caregivers. To ease the administrative burden on families, a state-contracted payroll vendor will handle backend responsibilities.
Clarification is also underway regarding the role of Waiver Service Coordinators, with a focus on standardizing responsibilities such as assessments, care planning, provider coordination, and follow-up. Under MyCare Ohio, all managed care plans will begin using a single assessment tool to promote consistency statewide.
Finally, members of the council expressed strong support for more user-friendly tools—such as visual benefit summaries—to help those dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid navigate their benefits more easily.
LeadingAge Ohio will continue to monitor these developments and share additional updates as changes to the MyCare provider agreement and related initiatives roll out. The 2025 LeadingAge Ohio Annual Conference & Trade Show is the premier event for aging services professionals across the state—bringing together providers, partners, and thought leaders for three days of education, connection, and inspiration. Whether you're attending, exhibiting, or sponsoring, this is your opportunity to be part of a powerful network committed to person-centered care for older adults in Ohio.
This year’s conference features expert-led sessions covering the latest in clinical care, regulatory updates, workforce strategies, and leadership development—all tailored to the unique challenges facing aging services today. The Trade Show offers hands-on access to trusted vendors and solution partners who understand the needs of long-term care, home- and community-based services, senior housing, and hospice providers.
Beyond the classroom, attendees can look forward to signature conference events including the Annual Awards Luncheon, the Ice Cream Social, and the return of Game Night—an evening of friendly competition, laughter, and community. These moments are more than fun—they’re a chance to build lasting connections and celebrate the mission that unites us.
Now is the time to get involved. Visit www.LAOConference.org to register, exhibit, or sponsor and help shape the future of aging services in Ohio.
The LeadingAge Ohio room block at the hotel event venue is full. Visit the conference website for nearby alternative hotels. There's always something happening at LeadingAge Ohio, and we don’t want you to miss a moment. From educational opportunities to networking events, our calendar is packed with ways for members to stay informed, engaged, and connected.
Explore what's ahead and make plans to join us—whether you're looking to expand your knowledge, connect with peers, or get involved in shaping the future of aging services in Ohio.
View all upcoming events here and mark your calendar today!
The LeadingAge Ohio Political Action Committee (PAC) invites members, partners, and guests to join the annual PAC Golf Outing fundraiser on Monday, September 29, 2025, at The Golf Club of Dublin in Dublin, Ohio. Whether you're a seasoned golfer or just out to enjoy a day on the course, the outing promises friendly competition, great company, and a chance to support LeadingAge Ohio’s advocacy efforts.
The event will begin with a shotgun start at 10:00AM, with registration opening at 9:00AM. Foursomes and individual golfers are welcome, and registration will remain open through Friday, September 26. Sponsorship opportunities are also available for those interested in further supporting the PAC’s mission.
View full event details or register. For questions, contact Corey Markham, Director of Corporate Relations & Initiatives, at cmarkham@leadingageohio.org.
Please note that contributions to Political Action Committees must be made by individuals, partnerships, or LLCs, not corporations, and are not tax-deductible. All contributions are voluntary and will not influence membership standing or benefits. Top Following the July 4 enactment of H.R. 1, the 2025 Reconciliation Bill, LeadingAge has released a series of explainers outlining how key provisions of the law affect aging services providers. These members-only resources—now available in the LeadingAge Resource Library—cover topics including aging services provisions, affordable housing, Medicaid eligibility and work requirements, provider taxes, rural health transformation, and tax policy. To view the overview of aging services provisions, click here.
In related policy news, the U.S. Supreme Court on July 8 lifted a lower court injunction that had blocked several federal agencies from implementing planned reductions in force. With the injunction removed, agencies are now permitted to proceed with reorganization and layoff efforts. For more on this development, read the full update from LeadingAge. LeadingAge will continue to monitor the implications for programs and funding streams relevant to the aging services field.
Learn more and ask questions on Federal activity with LeadingAge National’s policy experts on Monday’s Advocacy in Action call. Register for Advocacy in Action here. A new resource from the LeadingAge Learning Hub, Risk Oversight for Boards, offers nonprofit aging services boards a comprehensive roadmap to strengthening governance through effective risk management. The resource includes narrated presentations and practical tools designed to help board members integrate risk oversight into strategic planning. It is well-suited for board orientation, continuing education, or strategic discussions. Free to LeadingAge members, the resource is available now on the Learning Hub. Access it here. LeadingAge is once again offering its Shared Learning Series: Embracing Dementia Inclusion, a five-part virtual series designed to support providers in creating more inclusive environments for individuals living with dementia. This fourth cohort will launch in late September and is limited to 36 LeadingAge provider members. Participants will receive expert guidance, peer-to-peer learning, and practical tools to help jumpstart or deepen their organization’s dementia inclusion efforts. Registration is first-come, first-served and is now open. Learn more and register here. Top Ohio Department of Aging Director Ursel McElroy talked about the positive outcomes for the agency coming out of the FY26-27 state operating budget. The final measure included $259.5 million in all-funds for the agency, an increase over the $258.5 million requested in the as-introduced version, and $52.4 million in general revenue funds compared to the $51.4 million sought by Governor DeWine. According to the Director, the provided appropriations position the agency to pursue its overarching goals of building on its progress in addressing healthy aging, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, home- and community-based services and nursing home care.
The Director spoke specifically to the increase of the personal needs allowance for residents. That item, like several others affecting older Ohioans, does not appear in the agency's spending outline, but rather in the Ohio Department of Medicaid's (ODM) budget. Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed the personal needs allowance increase from $50 to $75 per month for residents of nursing homes and intermediate care facilities due to concerns the language could be interpreted to retroactively apply back to 2016. He has already directed ODM, however, to implement the increase through the rulemaking process.
The governor also vetoed a rate add-on for dialysis treatment provided to nursing facility residents that also expands the pool of providers eligible for funding, but McElroy said the decision was made solely because the administration does not support setting rates in statute. She went on to clarify that the add-on will still be accomplished, but in a way that rates won't be in statute.
McElroy also celebrated changes to the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), including support for the amendment around prompt start of services for prospective participants during the time period that their Medicaid eligibility is being determined. She went on to note that those who are able to be enrolled in the PACE model benefit from earlier enrollment on the program, and that this added provision makes that possible.
Meanwhile, like other agencies that overlap with Medicaid, the Department is keeping a close eye on the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The agency is still assessing not only how the bill will impact older Ohioans, but also their caregivers. Top In a July 15 op-ed in the Los Angeles Times, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz and Deputy Administrator and COO Kim Brandt discussed their focus on stopping fraud, waste, and abuse in the Medicare program. The op-ed specifically calls out Los Angeles as a hot spot for fraudulent hospice agencies and the role international operators have played in the growth of fraud.
The op-ed states "The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is closing the door to what has become a global raid on one of America’s most important public trust funds. This spring, we rolled out a war room — the Fraud Defense Operations Center — a team of experts from across the agency using artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge technology to identify fraudulent activity before we pay the bills." The op-ed concludes with a call to action for seniors and others, both inside and outside the healthcare system, to take action to prevent fraud in their communities.
LeadingAge has long advocated for program integrity measures, including issuing 34 recommendations to CMS and Congress in 2023 and working on program integrity oversight measures included in the Hospice CARE Act of 2024. The SNF Provider Preview Reports have been updated and are now available. These reports contain provider performance scores for quality measures, which will be published on the compare tool on Medicare.gov and the Provider Data Catalog (PDC) during the October 2025 release.
The October 2025 release includes the initial public reporting of three new assessment-based measures: Transfer of Health (TOH) Information to the Provider – Post-Acute Care (PAC), Transfer of Health (TOH) Information to the Patient – Post-Acute Care (PAC), and COVID-19 Vaccine: Percent of Patients/Residents Who Are Up to Date.
Data contained within the Provider Preview Reports (including the new TOH measures) are based on quality assessment data submitted by SNFs from Quarter 1, 2024 through Quarter 4, 2024.
- The new COVID-19 Vaccine: Percent of Patients/Residents Who Are Up to Date measure is based on data only from Quarter 4, 2024.
- The Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Healthcare Personnel measure from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reflects data from Quarter 4, 2024 through Quarter 1, 2025.
- The CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage among Healthcare Personnel (HCP) measure reflects data from Quarter 4, 2024.
- The Potentially Preventable 30-Day Post-Discharge Readmission and Discharge to Community claims-based measures reflect data from Quarter 4, 2022 through Quarter 3, 2024. The Medicare Spending Per Beneficiary claims-based measure reflects data from Quarter 4, 2021 through Quarter 3, 2023 and will be refreshed in January 2026.
- The SNF Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) measure reflects data from Quarter 4, 2023 through Quarter 3, 2024.
Providers have until August 14, 2025, to review their performance data. Only updates/corrections to the underlying assessment data before the final data submission deadline will be reflected in the publicly reported data on Medicare.gov and PDC. If a provider updates assessment data after the final data submission deadline, the updated data will only be reflected in the Facility-Level Quality Measure (QM) report and Patient-Level QM report. Updates submitted after the final data submission deadline will not be reflected in the Provider Preview Reports or on Medicare.gov. However, providers can request a CMS review of their data during the preview period if they believe the displayed quality measure scores within their Provider Preview Reports are inaccurate.
For those users experiencing issues locating their agency’s SNF Provider Preview Report, follow the steps outlined below:
- Log into iQIES using your Health Care Quality Information Systems (HCQIS) Access Roles and Profile (HARP) user ID and password. (If you do not have a HARP account, you may register for a HARP ID.)
- From the Reports menu, select My Reports.
- From the My Reports page, locate the SNF Provider Preview Reports folder. Select the SNF Provider Preview Reports link to open the folder.
- Displayed for you is a list of reports available for download. The reports or files are listed in descending order and the newest files are displayed at the top of the list.
- Select the desired SNF Provider Preview Report name link and the report will display.
New Users
New users will automatically receive the latest Provider Preview Report in their SNF Provider Preview Report folder once their new iQIES user role is approved. Follow the steps above to locate your agency’s report in the SNF Provider Preview Report folder.
For questions related to accessing your facility’s Provider Preview Report, please contact the iQIES Service Center by email at iqies@cms.hhs.gov or call 1-800-339-9313. For questions about SNF Quality Reporting Program (QRP) Public Reporting, please email SNFQRPPRQuestions@cms.hhs.gov. Top The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has extended the deadline for nursing home Medicare revalidation to January 2026, giving providers additional time to meet new ownership and management reporting requirements.
The updated rules require facilities to disclose significantly more information—including anyone with controlling interest, such as vendors and volunteers—via Form 855A. Failure to submit complete information could result in suspension or loss of Medicare certification.
LeadingAge welcomed the delay, citing concerns about the short timeline and complexity of the requirements. The association reaffirmed its commitment to ownership transparency while advocating for a more manageable process.
LeadingAge Ohio will continue to monitor guidance and share updates as they become available.
Read the full article from McKnight’s Long-Term Care News here. As the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) transitioned its survey and certification systems from the Automated Survey Processing Environment (ASPEN) to the web-based Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES) on July 14, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) confirmed that no changes were made to provider-facing systems in Ohio.
While some states moved to the federal electronic Plan of Correction (ePOC) system, Ohio providers continued using the state’s Electronic Information Data Collection (EIDC) system to submit Plans of Correction, desk reviews, informal dispute resolutions (IDRs), and waiver requests. ODH stated there was no need for providers to alter their submission processes, though some users may have noticed minor visual updates to the EIDC interface. Should future changes arise, ODH committed to notifying providers directly through EIDC alerts.
To ease the transition and reduce disruptions, ODH temporarily paused survey activity during the backend system updates, ensuring providers were not required to access EIDC during that time. These adjustments were administrative in nature and did not affect day-to-day provider operations.
Surveyors, however, began entering documentation into iQIES rather than ASPEN. Although the survey process itself remained unchanged, ODH began evaluating whether this shift could lead to connectivity challenges in rural areas. Most surveyors already relied on facility Wi-Fi, which was expected to minimize potential issues.
Providers operating across multiple states may have received information about changes related to the federal ePOC system. LeadingAge Ohio will continue to keep members informed about what specifically applies within Ohio. For any questions or issues related to EIDC or survey documentation, providers can contact ODH at BLTCQ@odh.ohio.gov. CMS has updated the surveyor resources due to the transition of the survey and certification systems from the Automated Survey Processing Environment (ASPEN) to the web-based Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (iQIES). One notable change impacts the limited record review procedure related to new diagnoses of Schizophrenia. Surveyors are now instructed to review not only residents who are prescribed antipsychotic medications with a newly documented Schizophrenia diagnosis, but also residents who have received a new Schizophrenia diagnosis regardless of whether they are taking antipsychotics.
CMS emphasizes this change under F641 in the State Operations Manual Appendix PP, stating: CMS is aware of situations where residents are given a diagnosis of schizophrenia without sufficient supporting documentation that meets the criteria in the current version of the DSM for diagnosing schizophrenia. For these situations, determine if non-compliance exists for the facility’s completion of an accurate assessment. This practice may also require referrals by the facility and/or the survey team to State Medical Boards or Boards of Nursing.
Surveyors should investigate this concern through record review and interviews with staff who completed the assessment. Surveyors are not questioning the physician’s medical judgement, but rather, they are evaluating whether the medical record contains supporting documentation for the diagnosis to verify the accuracy of the resident assessment.
If the facility is unable to provide documentation which supports the MDS coding of the new diagnosis in question, then noncompliance exists at §483.20(g) and (i)(2). Supporting documentation should include, but is not limited to, evaluation(s) of the resident’s physical, behavioral, mental, psychosocial status, and comorbid conditions, ruling out physiological effects of a substance (e.g., medication or drugs) or other medical conditions, indications of distress, changes in functional status, resident complaints, behaviors, symptoms, and/or state Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASARR) evaluation.
LeadingAge Ohio encourages providers to review all residents with a Schizophrenia diagnosis, as well as admission procedures, to ensure protocols are in place for obtaining appropriate supporting documentation. Facilities should also routinely monitor compliance using the surveyor guidance outlined in the State Operations Manual Appendix PP.
Additionally, the survey pathways can be found in the Survey Resources zip file on the CMS Nursing Home webpage and under the downloads section on this CMS webpage. LeadingAge Ohio has provided survey tips to help navigate the changes in the revised QSO-25-14- NH memo. The previously provided survey tips can be accessed on the LeadingAge Ohio webpage under the Communications tab, then The Source tab. CMS has updated the survey resources on the CMS Nursing Home webpage in accordance with the revised QSO-25-14- NH memo. LeadingAge has developed webinars and resources on the requirements of participation which are located on the LeadingAge learning hub. LeadingAge continues to add QuickCasts on the regulatory groups. Updated resources have also been added on the Nursing Home RoP Tools and Resources webpage.
For more information about the requirements of participation and citations occurring in Ohio, please join us on the monthly STAT: Survey Tips and Tactics call. Register now for the August 13 call at 11:00AM. LeadingAge Ohio is sharing tips to assist members during the survey process. Send questions you would like addressed in future Tips of the Week to Stephanie DeWees at sdewees@leadingageohio.org. Top Has your organization recently celebrated a major milestone? Opened a new building? Been featured in the news? Whether it’s a groundbreaking, an award, or a great story from your community, we want to help spread the word.
LeadingAge Ohio members are doing incredible work across the state, and we’re proud to highlight those efforts. Share your press releases, social media posts, or media coverage with us and we’ll feature them in the Member News section of The Source. We may also help amplify your story on LeadingAge Ohio’s social media channels.
To submit a news item, simply email Laurinda Johnson at ljohnson@leadingageohio.org. We can’t wait to celebrate your success! United Church Homes (UCH) has announced the promotion of Terry Spitznagel to Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. In this new role, Spitznagel will oversee all operational aspects of the organization, reporting directly to UCH President and CEO Kenneth Young.
Spitznagel joined United Church Homes in 2020 and has since led key initiatives to expand service lines through UCH Management, strengthen care coordination via NaviGuide, and enhance overall operational performance. According to Young, “Terry has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to our mission and a strong vision for the future of senior living and services.” Her promotion reflects both her accomplishments and her leadership in advancing the organization’s strategic priorities.
As COO, Spitznagel will guide UCH’s operational strategy across its full continuum of services, with a continued focus on quality outcomes, sustainability, and innovation in care and housing for older adults.
United Church Homes, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit senior living providers, serves nearly 7,000 residents in more than 90 communities across 15 states and two Native American nations. The organization is ranked 19th on the 2024 LeadingAge Ziegler 200 list and continues to shape the future of senior living as a founding member of Radiant Alliance.
Read the full announcement at United Church Homes’ newsroom. Top LeadingAge Ohio holds valuable education webinars and in-person events throughout the year. Opportunities are added weekly. See the complete Schedule of Events. LeadingAge Ohio, in partnership with Arnet Technologies, is offering a free 30-minute webinar on Wednesday, August 14 at 1:00PM to help organizations harness the power of Ohio’s TechCred grant to implement AI automation and reduce operational costs. The TechCred program, available to any Ohio-based business with W2 employees, provides up to $180,000 per year to support workforce training and technology upgrades. The application process takes just 20 minutes and offers a powerful opportunity to invest in staff development while improving efficiency across your organization.
During the webinar, Arnet Technologies will guide attendees through the grant’s eligibility requirements, application process, and reimbursement timeline, as well as explore how to apply TechCred funds to real-world automation projects that deliver measurable impact. Registration is free but required, and can be completed by visiting The Learning Center. Don’t miss this chance to discover how your organization can use TechCred to advance both your mission and your bottom line. Launching July 24, the Survey Success Collaborative: Building Sustainable Systems for Compliance Excellence is designed to help long-term care providers strengthen their preparedness for state surveys and build lasting systems that support regulatory compliance. This focused series will walk participants through key areas such as survey expectations, optimizing electronic medical records (EMRs), evaluating risk, and developing effective plans of correction.
Each session is structured to equip teams with practical strategies and step-by-step tools that can be implemented right away, helping organizations shift from reactive survey responses to proactive, sustainable success. Providers will gain a clearer understanding of what surveyors expect and how to align internal processes to support consistent compliance. Register through the Learning Center. Each year, the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) requires employers to complete a process known as the true-up. Because workers’ compensation coverage is based on estimated payroll, the BWC asks employers at the end of the policy year to report actual payroll figures and either pay any outstanding premium balance or receive a refund for any overpayment.
Timely completion of the true-up is critical. Employers who fail to complete the process risk losing eligibility for prior year rebates and incentives, being removed from current year programs, and becoming ineligible for participation in future programs until all outstanding true-ups are resolved.
Read the full article from Sedgwick, a valued LeadingAge Ohio partner. Top
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