Ohio Council for Home Care & Hospice is thrilled to announce a groundbreaking achievement for Ohio’s home care community! Thanks to the relentless efforts of our dedicated advocates and partners, we have secured an incredible $836 million boost in Medicaid reimbursements for home care programs in the new State Budget (HB 33), beginning January 1st, 2024.

Details from The Office of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and The Ohio Department of Medicaid are available here. Public comment is open through Monday, October 9th. Send any comments or feedback to Rules@Medicaid.Ohio.gov.

These are the rules being considered for updates:

• Rule 5160-15-28, Transportation: services from an eligible provider: payment
• Rule 5160-1-60, Medicaid payment
• Rule 5160-4-21, Anesthesia services
• Rule 5160-5-01, Dental services

This momentous win means a brighter future for the vulnerable Ohioans who depend on these vital services to receive care in the comfort of their homes. Increased funding will also play a pivotal role in tackling the severe worker shortage and covering the costs of critical health services. With the older adult population expected to grow rapidly over the next two decades, we will be better equipped to ensure that they can age in place and aid those struggling with disabilities, chronic illness, or post-surgery recovery.

We owe this victory to the OCHCH member community and the teamwork of our board members, the unwavering support of statewide agencies and stakeholders, and the remarkable dedication of our government relations team at Hicks Partners.

This achievement is a testament to the resilience and commitment of all our members – true heroes who tirelessly strive to help thousands of fragile Ohioans remain in the comfort of their homes. Our heartfelt gratitude goes to members who bravely shared their agency stories with the media and lawmakers.

The Ohio Council for Home Care and Hospice extends its sincerest thanks to The Ohio Department of Medicaid; Governor Mike DeWine and members of his administration – including directors Maureen Corcoran, Ursel McElroy and Kimberly Hauck; House Speaker Stephens; Senate President Huffman; Representatives Sweeney, Edwards, Carruthers, Schmidt, Hoops, Liston; and State Senators Antonio, Dolan, Romanchuk, and Huffman for their invaluable support in addressing the reimbursement issue.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this remarkable achievement! Let’s continue working together to make a positive difference in the lives of those we serve.