LeadingAge Ohio members will not receive the Affordable Housing Update or Home Health & Hospice Newsletter next week, and our regularly scheduled Advocacy in Action webinar will take the week off and return on November 24, as many of our staff will be in Philadelphia for the 2026 LeadingAge Annual Meeting & Expo and State Night Out on Sunday, October 25 at SPIN Philadelphia.
The Source and Weekly Education Update will be distributed as scheduled next week, keeping members informed of important news and upcoming educational opportunities. Members can also access news and updates through the communications section of the LeadingAge Ohio website. We look forward to seeing many of you in Philadelphia! Top You Asked: If a facility’s dishwashing machine becomes inoperable, can the facility’s policy allow the use of disposable paper products, or must the facility first use the three-compartment sink method?
We Answered: LeadingAge Ohio contacted the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) for clarification. ODH confirmed that facilities may use either option. The decision may depend on how long the dishwashing machine is expected to remain out of service.
Facilities should ensure their policies and procedures include contingency plans for dishwashing machine failures, including the use of disposable products and/or proper manual washing, rinsing and sanitizing procedures. Regardless of the method selected, facilities must maintain safe and sanitary food service practices in accordance with F812 – Food Safety. Facilities using manual dishwashing should also follow Ohio's three-compartment sink requirements.
Facilities should also consider F550 – Resident Rights/Exercise of Rights, which requires residents to be treated with dignity and respect. When using disposable products, facilities should consider the impact on residents' dining experience and continue to honor individual preferences, needs and dignity. Top Reconnect with colleagues, make new friends and enjoy informal networking with fellow aging services providers at LeadingAge Ohio’s Regional Network Gatherings this December. These casual get-togethers are a great opportunity to step away from the day-to-day, share ideas and strengthen relationships with others who understand your work.
LeadingAge Ohio President and CEO Susan Wallace will share a brief statewide update, followed by remarks from event sponsor Link-age Solutions. Drinks and appetizers will be available!
Choose the gathering that works best for you:
Northeast Ohio – Cleveland: Dec. 1, 2026 | 4–6 p.m. at Great Lakes Brewing Company, 2516 Market Ave., Cleveland, OH 44113.
Northwest Ohio – Toledo: Dec. 3, 2026 | 4–6 p.m. at Maumee Bay Brewing Company, 27 Broadway St., Toledo, OH 43604.
Southwest Ohio – Cincinnati: Dec. 8, 2026 | 4–6 p.m. at Firehouse Grill, 4785 Lake Forest Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45242.
Registration is free for LeadingAge Ohio members! Associate firms and partners are also welcome to attend for a registration fee.
Advance registration is required, so save your spot today! Select the date above for your preferred gathering to register. Questions? Contact Corey Markham at cmarkham@leadingageohio.org.
Bring a colleague, reconnect with a friend and join us for a fun afternoon of conversation and connection! Calling all members with event space! LeadingAge Ohio is looking for host sites for our 2027 STARS celebrations, and we’d love to celebrate with you!
As the STARS program continues to grow, we’re excited to bring these celebrations to communities across Ohio. Hosting is a great way to support the program and help us recognize the outstanding people making a difference in aging services.
Host sites must be able to accommodate at least 100 guests, provide audio capabilities and provide meals for the celebration. Don’t worry about coordinating all the details—LeadingAge Ohio will manage event logistics, reimburse meal costs and work closely with hosts throughout the planning process.
Celebrations are expected to take place between mid-March and May 2027, depending on venue availability. The Awards Committee will review applications and determine the best approach for hosting celebrations across the state. Applicants will be notified of decisions by December 4.
Interested in hosting? Apply by October 30! We’d love to partner with you to make the 2027 STARS celebrations special!
Questions? Contact Molly Homan at mhoman@leadingageohio.org. LeadingAge Ohio's first month of Shop Talks is complete! Thank you to everyone who participated in these new monthly member conversations. If you missed a session, you can catch up through the LeadingAge Ohio Learning Center: Nursing Facilities and Assisted Living Shop Talk from October 6, Home Health and Hospice Shop Talk from October 13 and Affordable Senior Housing Shop Talk from October 20.
Shop Talks are a monthly LeadingAge Ohio member benefit featuring policy and operational updates, questions and discussion with peers and subject matter experts. Sessions take place at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesdays, with nursing facilities and assisted living on the first Tuesday, home health and hospice on the second, and affordable senior housing on the third. Stay tuned for next month's Shop Talks, with new discussions and opportunities to participate! There’s always something happening at LeadingAge Ohio. View upcoming events and mark your calendar today.
- October 22, 2:30 p.m. - DON Networking Meeting
- October 25, 5:30 p.m. - State Night Out at SPIN! Philadelphia
- November 3, 11:30 a.m. - Shop Talk: Nursing Facilities and Assisted Living
- November 3, 1 p.m. - Membership Committee
- November 5, 9 a.m. - LeadingAge Ohio Budget & Finance Committee
- November 5, 10 a.m. - Advocacy Committee
- November 6, 10 a.m. - Marketing Roundtable
- November 10, 10 a.m. - Awards Committee
- November 10, 11:30 a.m. - Shop Talk: Home Health & Hospice
- November 10, 11: 30 a.m. - Uniform Grant Regulations’ Changes: How You can Prepare for What’s Next
- December 1, 4-6 p.m. - Cleveland Regional Network Gathering
- December 3, 4-6 p.m. - Toledo Regional Network Gathering
- December 8, 4-6 p.m. - Cincinnati Regional Network Gathering
Top LeadingAge is accepting session proposals for the 2027 LeadingAge Annual Meeting, November 7-10 in Minneapolis. Aging services providers are invited to share successful programs, tested approaches and lessons learned that can help fellow providers address challenges across the field.
Proposals are due Monday, December 7, at 8 p.m. ET. Review the 2027 LeadingAge Call for Sessions for submission guidelines and to submit a proposal. What You Need To Know
An October 14 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) final rule confirms the end of automatic Employment Authorization Document (EAD) extensions for certain renewal applications. A separate proposed rule would eliminate the requirement to generally defer to prior approvals when reviewing nonimmigrant worker extension petitions.
What Happens Next
The EAD final rule is in effect. Public comments on the proposed rule are due November 13.
What to Do
Review work authorization expiration dates and renewal timelines for affected employees. LeadingAge is tracking these developments through its ongoing immigration policy updates and Foreign-Born Workforce and Aging Services resources. Read LeadingAge's coverage of the DHS actions for additional details. Top A new performance audit of the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) identified shortcomings in strategic planning, program evaluation, transparency and coordination with other state agencies.
The audit, conducted by Auditor of State Keith Faber’s office at the direction of lawmakers through House Bill 96, examined Ohio’s Next Generation Medicaid managed care system, which launched in early 2023 following delays and litigation.
Auditors concluded that ODM often focuses on meeting minimum state and federal requirements rather than evaluating program outcomes and identifying opportunities for improvement.
“Overall, we found that the department operates on a culture of compliance, rather than one that is concerned with improving and optimizing program outcomes,” the report states.
As an example, auditors noted that ODM reviews a sample of 800 Medicaid eligibility determinations every three years. In 2025, Ohio processed approximately 850,000 Medicaid applications, meaning the review covered less than 1% of applications processed in a given year.
The report also questioned whether some ODM staff identified as subject matter experts had sufficient knowledge of the programs they oversaw, particularly regarding evaluation and outcome measurement.
Auditors criticized ODM’s process for responding to information requests, reporting that an internal coordination group sometimes delayed access to information and made follow-up questions more difficult.
The audit makes nine recommendations, including:
- Aligning strategic plans and program evaluations with operational strategies.
- Improving transparency in enrollment and financial forecasting.
- Strengthening vendor contract management and tracking of claims payment timeliness.
- Coordinating eligibility policies with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and the Department of Children and Youth.
- Addressing more than 20 recurring functionality issues with Ohio Benefits, the state’s public-benefit eligibility and enrollment system.
- Improving data collection on application-processing delays.
- Expanding quality-control reviews of eligibility determinations.
- Developing a department-wide stakeholder engagement plan.
The report also flagged passive, or ex parte, eligibility renewals for further review. Some county job and family services agencies told auditors that individuals they believed were no longer eligible had been automatically renewed, potentially resulting in Medicaid managed care payments for ineligible individuals.
Faber’s office said the findings warrant attention from the gubernatorial administration taking office in 2027, particularly because some improvements require coordination among multiple agencies.
“We've sounded the alarm about Medicaid for the past eight years, and our calls for action have not been adequately addressed,” Faber said in a statement accompanying the report. “There's too much at stake for the Ohioans who rely on these services for ODM to continue business as usual.”
The audit’s recommendations focus on strengthening program oversight, improving eligibility processes and increasing accountability across state agencies.
Find the full Auditor of State report here. 
LeadingAge Ohio members are putting advocacy into action, welcoming state legislators for conversations about House Bill 945 and efforts to strengthen hospice quality and program integrity in Ohio.
At Hospice of Cincinnati, Representative Jean Schmidt, chair of the Ohio House Health Committee, met with Gayle Mattson, President and CEO, Angie Brinegar, Director of Clinical Operations, and LeadingAge Ohio's Eli Faes, Director of Public Policy, and Cara Wickham, Director of Home Health and Hospice. Representative Schmidt expressed strong support for HB 945 and the ongoing effort to strengthen hospice oversight.
LeadingAge Ohio also joined EverHeart Hospice for a meeting with Representative Angela King and the CEO of EverHeart Hospice, Kristi Strawser, along with EverHeart’s leadership team. The conversation provided another opportunity to discuss the importance of strong hospice oversight and build legislative support for HB 945.
Thank you to Hospice of Cincinnati and EverHeart Hospice for opening their doors and helping ensure the voices of Ohio's hospice providers are heard. The Ohio Department of Aging has released the final approved 2027-2030 Ohio State Plan on Aging and is preparing for implementation. Seven priority-area workgroups will help carry out the plan's objectives and action steps, with initial meetings expected in early 2027. The seven priority areas include:
- Caregiver supports
- Community supports and services
- Financial well-being
- Healthy food access
- Quality and coordinated healthcare
- Reliable transportation
- Safe and accessible housing
Organizations interested in participating can register for a workgroup.
The department will provide quarterly implementation updates through Ohio Advisory Council for Aging meetings and its EngAGE newsletter. Ohio's Aging Compass Data Explorer is scheduled for an update in January 2027 to reflect progress on the plan's performance measures. Members can review the approved 2027-2030 Ohio State Plan on Aging. Top Medline Industries announced October 14, 2026, that it is voluntarily recalling and discontinuing all Medline-branded beds because of electrical fire and entrapment risks. The recall affects equipment used across aging services, including nursing homes, assisted living communities, life plan communities, home health, hospice and other home- and community-based settings. LeadingAge Ohio encourages all member organizations that use or supply these beds to review Medline's urgent medical device field safety notice and take appropriate precautions.
What You Need To Know
- Broad recall: All Medline-branded homecare, bariatric and long-term-care beds are affected, along with hand controls, accessories, replacement parts and product packages containing beds.
- Electrical hazards: Bed motors, controls and wiring may overheat, creating risks of electrical shock, burns, smoke or fire.
- Entrapment risks: Bed accessories, including side rails, may create openings that could result in entrapment, serious injury or death.
- Impact across care settings: Providers must consider how the loss of powered adjustments and bed accessories may affect positioning, transfers, mobility, personal care and staff safety.
What Happens Next
- Product discontinuation: Medline is exiting the bed market. Affected beds may remain in use with a mattress in manual mode only until replacement.
- Safety labels: Medline will provide safety instruction labels for affected beds. Organizations that have not received labels through their supplier by Nov. 30, 2026, should contact Medline Recall Customer Service at 800-950-0128, option 7.
What to Do
- Identify affected equipment: Review bed inventories and coordinate with equipment suppliers to identify Medline-branded beds in use across care settings.
- Follow immediate precautions: Unplug affected beds, disconnect batteries and stop using electrical functions and all bed accessories, including side rails. Electrical adjustments are permitted only during emergencies, such as choking or CPR, under Medline's specified precautions.
- Assess individual care needs: Determine how these restrictions affect residents and individuals receiving services, particularly those who rely on adjustable beds for positioning, transfers, pressure injury prevention or other care needs. Update care plans and arrange alternatives as necessary.
- Coordinate replacements: Contact the original equipment provider or distributor regarding removal, replacement and potential reimbursement or credit for beds received within the past five years.
- Communicate with residents, families and staff: Explain the recall, required precautions and plans to maintain safe care during equipment replacement.
- Report safety incidents: Notify Medline at 800-950-0128, option 5, or QualityAssurance@medline.com. Follow applicable incident reporting requirements. Incidents may also be reported through FDA MedWatch.
Members should review the complete Medline recall notice and affected product information. LeadingAge national's recall coverage provides additional information for aging services providers. As changes under HR 1 take effect, an estimated 10 million of the nation’s 81 million Medicaid enrollees could lose coverage over the next decade. A new analysis from independent health policy research organization KFF examines Medicaid enrollment across U.S. congressional districts, highlighting significant differences in the number and share of residents who rely on the program.
According to KFF’s October 8, 2026, report, Medicaid enrollment ranges from approximately 52,900 people in Texas’ 24th Congressional District to 496,500 in New York’s 15th District. The analysis breaks down enrollment by eligibility group, including adults age 65 and older, people with disabilities, children and other adults.
The findings also highlight the role Medicaid plays in supporting older adults across the country. Congressional districts in California and New York had the 13 highest counts of older adult Medicaid enrollees in 2025, followed by districts in Florida.
Medicaid enrollment as a share of the population also varies considerably by district, reflecting differences in population and program participation. Districts in Georgia, Kansas and Texas had the lowest enrollment rates, at 7% of their populations, while one New York district had a rate exceeding 65%.
Find out Ohio’s percentages by exploring KFF’s interactive congressional district map and full analysis. Top The Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) provided additional updates this week on the remaining nursing facility Quality Incentive Payment (QIP) settlement payments stemming from the mandamus action.
ODM is awaiting approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to issue the second round of payments, which will cover state fiscal year 2024 (SFY24). According to ODM’s October 20 FAQ, the department anticipates the approval process will take approximately another month.
During a recent call with ODM leadership, the department indicated that it expects payments to facilities that have changed operators or owners (CHOP/CHOW) to be included in this second round of payments. The FAQ explains that these facilities, along with closed facilities, will receive a single payment for their total settlement amount, subject to CMS approval and ODM’s receipt and approval of the required documentation. ODM plans to provide CHOP/CHOW providers with access to a separate online system and dashboard by the end of October to submit the required information and determine payment allocations.
ODM leadership also indicated that providers should not anticipate additional general communications clarifying the payment process. Providers with questions can contact ODM at NFRateSetting@medicaid.ohio.gov. Under F693, §483.25(g)(5) Tube Feeding, facilities must ensure that residents receiving enteral nutrition receive appropriate treatment and services to prevent complications, including dehydration, aspiration pneumonia, diarrhea, vomiting, and metabolic abnormalities. The Long-Term Care Survey Process (LTCSP) includes a question specifically addressing dehydration for residents receiving tube feedings. Surveyors will ask residents, “Have you been dehydrated since receiving a tube-feeding?” A resident's response may prompt further investigation into whether the facility has appropriately assessed and monitored hydration needs and implemented necessary interventions. CMS notes that care of the feeding tube includes defining the frequency of and volume used for flushing, including flushing for medication administration, and when a prescriber’s order does not specify.
Facilities should review their processes for ensuring adequate hydration for residents receiving tube feedings. This includes verifying that individualized fluid requirements have been assessed, prescribed water flushes and additional hydration are administered as ordered, and staff monitor for signs and symptoms of dehydration. Documentation should demonstrate that changes in hydration status are identified, communicated to the practitioner, and addressed through appropriate interventions. As state survey agencies implement the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) nationwide Risk-Based Survey process, CMS continues to issue clarifications and additional guidance. The latest updates address procedures surveyors should follow when issues arise during a Risk-Based Survey.
LeadingAge's October 13 update outlines these clarifications and what nursing home providers should know about the survey process. Members can also access LeadingAge Ohio's on-demand recording, 2026 STAT: Survey Tips and Tactics – Preparing for CMS Risk-Based Surveys, which covers eligibility criteria, surveyor expectations and preparation for the streamlined survey process. LeadingAge’s Nursing Home Network will meet Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 2 p.m. ET. Staff will review nursing home policy updates from the past month and discuss various questions posed by network members. The Nursing Home Network is open to all LeadingAge members - register for these calls here. Top Staff from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) will join LeadingAge's Adult Day member network Thursday, Oct. 22, at 1 p.m. Eastern to discuss the Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) model. The discussion follows recent meetings between LeadingAge and CMMI regarding the model and its implications for adult day services providers.
Members can register for the Oct. 22 discussion. Top LeadingAge Ohio congratulates Laura Lamb, president and CEO of member organization Episcopal Retirement Services (ERS), on being named the top nonprofit CEO in the Cincinnati Business Courier's 2026 C-Suite Awards.
Lamb has served ERS since 1994, including as CEO since 2017. Her leadership has included expanding housing options for middle-income older adults and advancing person-centered services across Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. LeadingAge Ohio congratulates Laura and the ERS team on this recognition of her longstanding commitment to nonprofit aging services.
Read the full list of 2026 C-Suite Award honorees. Top On Nov. 18 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., LeadingAge Ohio will host AI for Senior Living: Practical Tools, Compliance, and Competitive Advantage at Quest Conference Center in Westerville with Hartman Executive Advisors. The full-day program will cover AI use cases, implementation, data and predictive analytics, cybersecurity, governance, privacy and compliance, followed by a panel of Ohio providers discussing how their organizations are using AI, where they remain cautious, and what they have learned. View the full agenda and register for Technology Day. Reimbursement is revenue. Every missed clinical detail can mean dollars left unclaimed, while coding that is not fully supported by documentation can put already-earned reimbursement at risk. LeadingAge Ohio’s 2026 Reimbursement Day will focus on both sides of the equation: capturing the full clinical picture through accurate MDS and PDPM coding and building the documentation needed to protect those dollars when Medicare, Medicaid or a contractor starts asking questions.
Set for Nov. 16 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Quest Conference Center in Westerville, this full-day program will follow the money from the factors that drive reimbursement through coding, documentation, medical review and audit response. Attendees will work through real-world scenarios and common vulnerabilities, including what happens when reimbursement opportunities are missed and what providers need when CGS comes calling.
Review the agenda and details for 2026 Reimbursement Day: Maximizing Reimbursement — Coding, Documentation and Audit Readiness and plan to bring the team members responsible for capturing, supporting, and defending reimbursement. LeadingAge Ohio is accepting applications for the 2027 Leadership Academy, a seven-month program designed to develop leaders across aging services. Open to employees of provider and associate member organizations, the Academy has graduated more than 150 leaders since 2013.
Two competitive tuition scholarships are available for fellows from member organizations new to the Academy or those that have not participated in recent years. Applications are due Nov. 30, 2026. Review the Leadership Academy program details and apply for the 2027 cohort. Enrollment is now open for the Winter 2027 session of the Core of Knowledge, a program designed for Administrators-in-Residence that fulfills the academic requirement set by the Board of Executives of Long-Term Services and Supports (BELTSS) for qualifying to sit for the state licensure board examination to become a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator (LNHA).
The three-week course will be held January 11–28, 2027, Monday through Thursday, at the OCLC Conference Center. This is one of only two opportunities to complete the required coursework in 2027.
The deadline to register is December 11, 2025. Learn more and register for the 2027 Winter Core of Knowledge. For additional information, contact Corey Markham at cmarkham@leadingageohio.org. LeadingAge Ohio holds valuable education webinars and in-person events throughout the year. Opportunities are added weekly. See the complete Schedule of Events. Top
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