Much has been happening at the Ohio Statehouse as policymakers work into the night to consider legislation prior to summer recess. This flurry of activity includes appropriations for QIP back payments, changes with the state’s vehicle to address Medicaid fraud (House Bill 795), and movement back to stand-alone legislation to strengthen hospice integrity. Learn more from LeadingAge Ohio’s policy experts on Monday’s Advocacy in Action at 10am here.
Read more QIP back payment appropriations and House Bill 795 updates in State News. Registration is now open for the 2026 LeadingAge Ohio Annual Conference and Trade Show, where aging services professionals from across Ohio will come together to learn from one another, hear new ideas from the field, and connect with exhibitors offering tools and resources that support mission-driven work across the care continuum. This year’s conference returns to the Columbus Hilton at Easton from August 25th to August 27th. Attendees can now register for the conference, view the full session schedule, and make plans to join colleagues for this year’s program, built around the theme, Celebrating the Changemakers.
This year’s conference will also feature several ways to take part beyond attendance. Members and partners can nominate a changemaker for the Hall of Changemakers, a conference recognition created to honor a person or LeadingAge Ohio member whose work, leadership, or compassion has made a lasting difference. Organizations interested in increasing their visibility can explore sponsorship opportunities, and companies that want to connect directly with attendees can reserve a trade show booth while space remains available. The keynote session, “See ME: The Power of Person-Centered Care”, will be presented by Petra Marquart, who will examine why service matters more than ever in aging services and how person-centered care can build trust, strengthen relationships, and support organizational success. Read full conference details on the 2026 Annual Conference page. Top You Asked: If a resident is not being admitted from a hospital, how recent does their history and physical need to be?
We Answered: No more than five (5) days prior to admission. The Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) 3701-17-10 states that prior to admission, the nursing home will obtain from the prospective resident's physician, other appropriate licensed health professionals acting within their applicable scope of practice, or the transferring entity, the current medical history and physical of the prospective resident, including the discharge diagnosis, admission orders for immediate care, the physical and mental functional status of the prospective resident, and sufficient additional information to assure care needs of and preparation for the prospective resident can be met. This information will have been updated no more than five days prior to admission. Top LeadingAge Ohio’s Nominating Committee is now accepting nominations for the Board of Directors and for member committees, with forms due by June 30. This is an opportunity for members to help guide the association’s work in a direct and meaningful way. Volunteers help inform decisions tied to advocacy, annual conference, awards, membership, and other priorities that matter to nonprofit aging services providers across Ohio. Committee service also gives rising leaders and experienced professionals alike a stronger connection to peers across the state, a broader view of the field, and a real voice in the work of the association. Those interested in learning about LeadingAge Ohio’s committees, including reviewing recent minutes, visit the LeadingAge Ohio website. Those interested in serving can complete the nomination form by June 30.
Learn more and apply here. We all have people in our lives - whether colleague, resident, patient, or loved one - who have made an indelible and positive change in our lives. The interactive exhibit, Hall of Changemakers, is your opportunity to recognize the impact of these incredible individuals at the LeadingAge Ohio Annual Conference. In sharing our changemakers and their stories, we not only celebrate these individuals but also inspire others. Learn more here. LeadingAge Ohio’s Preferred Service Provider Program connects members with reputable companies that save time and money. Through our partnership with Instrumentl, members receive a 20 percent discount on a grant discovery and management platform built for nonprofits. Instrumentl helps organizations find strong-fit funding opportunities, track deadlines, learn more about funders, and manage the grant process in one place.
Members can also learn more by watching the all-member webinar about Instrumentl and this member benefit and visiting the Preferred Service Provider page. Top Crisis preparedness takes more than a plan on paper. This October, join LeadingAge for practical guidance to help protect your organization’s reputation in a fast-moving communications environment. Explore how today’s media landscape is reshaping response, assess your current readiness, and gain strategies to strengthen internal and external communications. Save your spot for October 8. In this 11-minute QuickCast, ThriveMore shares how a clear dining philosophy, strong leadership, and meaningful resident engagement transformed their dining experience. This QuickCast features Reed VanderSlik, President and CEO, and Eric Nooe, Corporate Executive Chef, from ThriveMore in NC. View the QuickCast, here. Top Last year, LeadingAge Ohio shared that Buckeye Health Plan, one of the four designated health plans under the Next Gen program, would not be expanding in 2026 either through adding new enrollees or by growing its service area to statewide coverage.
Buckeye Health Plan continues to serve enrollees that had elected Buckeye as their health plan prior to the first phase of MyCare Next Generation which began in January 2026, and expects to grow to statewide coverage in 2027. LeadingAge Ohio will continue to monitor the roll-out of the MyCare Next Gen program, and welcomes member input and feedback on successes, challenges and gaps in the transition. Please share any concerns with Susan Wallace at swallace@leadingageohio.org. The Ohio General Assembly on Wednesday approved legislation providing $875 million in long-overdue Quality Incentive Payment (QIP) funding to Ohio nursing facilities, bringing to a close a nearly three-year effort led by LeadingAge Ohio, the Ohio Health Care Association, and the Academy for Senior Health Sciences.
The funding was included in House Bill 479, a bill that was amended to become a budget correction measure that passed the Senate unanimously and cleared the House on an 89-5 concurrence vote. The bill now heads to Governor Mike DeWine for his signature.
The payments stem from the Ohio Supreme Court's September 2025 ruling in favor of nursing facility providers after LeadingAge Ohio and its partners challenged the Ohio Department of Medicaid's implementation of the state's nursing facility quality incentive program. The Court found that providers had been underpaid for meeting quality benchmarks established by the General Assembly.
The legislation appropriates $875 million to satisfy the court-ordered payments, including approximately $310 million in state funds and $565 million in federal matching dollars.
Speaking on the House floor, Representative Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland) called the payments "long overdue" and noted that at least one nursing facility in her district closed while awaiting resolution of the dispute.
In a statement following passage, LeadingAge Ohio President and CEO Susan Wallace said:
"Today we are one step closer to resolving the work we began nearly three years ago. We look forward to the governor's signature and partnership with the Ohio Department of Medicaid to distribute payments. We thank the House and Senate who have pushed this across the finish line ahead of summer recess."
While legislative approval marks a significant milestone, implementation details remain important. LeadingAge Ohio will continue working with the Ohio Department of Medicaid as payment distribution plans are finalized, including outstanding questions involving certain change-of-ownership and change-of-provider circumstances.
For nursing facility providers, passage of HB 479 represents the culmination of years of advocacy and litigation to ensure that providers receive the quality incentive payments authorized by law and earned through their commitment to resident care.
More information regarding payment timelines and implementation details will be shared with members as it becomes available.
Members are encouraged to attend this Monday’s Advocacy in Action call, where the LeadingAge Ohio policy team will provide further details on the amendment language, payment timelines, and implementation details. The Ohio General Assembly on Wednesday approved a broad Medicaid program integrity package after key provisions from House Bill 795 were amended into Senate Bill 315, legislation originally focused on upgrading SNAP benefit cards with enhanced security technology.
The final bill includes a series of Medicaid oversight and anti-fraud measures, including increased penalties for Medicaid fraud, expanded provider screening and enrollment requirements, additional program integrity reporting, new electronic visit verification requirements, and enhanced investigative authority for the Ohio Attorney General and Auditor of State.
Notably, lawmakers removed several controversial provisions that had generated significant concern during committee hearings, including a proposed prohibition on family members serving as paid caregivers under certain Medicaid waiver programs. The final legislation also exempts live-in family caregivers from electronic visit verification GPS tracking requirements.
For hospice providers, the most significant development is what was not included.
The hospice integrity provisions from House Bill 945 — legislation developed by LeadingAge Ohio in partnership with Representative Andrea White and a coalition of hospice stakeholders — were initially amended into HB 795 as the Medicaid reform package moved through the House. However, those hospice provisions were ultimately removed during final negotiations and were not included in the version passed by the General Assembly.
As a result, HB 945 remains pending as standalone legislation and is expected to receive further consideration when lawmakers return following summer recess.
HB 945 focuses on strengthening hospice oversight, increasing transparency and accountability, and ensuring providers have the staffing, infrastructure, and operational capacity necessary to serve patients and families. The legislation was developed in response to significant growth in the number of hospice providers operating in Ohio and concerns regarding program integrity, ownership transparency, and quality reporting.
LeadingAge Ohio remains committed to advancing HB 945 and will continue working with Representative White, legislative leaders, the Ohio Home Care & Hospice Council, the Ohio Health Care Association, and other stakeholders to move the legislation forward.
Members are encouraged to attend this Monday’s Advocacy in Action call, where the LeadingAge Ohio policy team will provide further details on efforts to advance HB945 this fall. House Bill 750, The PACE Association of Ohio's legislation to expand access to the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), cleared an important hurdle this week, receiving an 11-1 favorable vote from the House Health Committee.
Sponsored by Representatives Bill Roemer and Andrea White, HB 750 would streamline the PACE site expansion process and support more timely enrollment for eligible older Ohioans seeking access to comprehensive community-based care services.
The committee vote reflects broad bipartisan support for the legislation and included support from House Finance Committee Chair Brian Stewart, a positive signal as the bill continues moving through the legislative process.
Although HB 750 was reported out of committee on June 10, it did not reach the House floor before lawmakers adjourned for summer recess. The timing between committee approval and the House Rules Committee meeting that sets the session agenda left insufficient time for the bill to be scheduled for a floor vote.
House leadership has indicated that HB 750 will be among the first measures considered when the General Assembly returns this fall. Importantly, the delay does not affect the bill's overall legislative trajectory. Even if the bill had passed the House this week, it would not have been referred to a Senate committee until lawmakers returned from recess.
The strong committee vote provides a solid foundation for the next phase of advocacy. The PACE Association of Ohio, supported by LeadingAge Ohio, will continue working with legislative leaders, bill sponsors, and PACE stakeholders throughout the summer to build support and position the legislation for House passage and Senate consideration later this year. Top The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on June 9 announced a new Federal Elder Justice Action Plan and launched the “Never EVER” campaign to help older adults, families, and caregivers spot and avoid government and business imposter scams. HHS said the plan is a government-wide strategy focused on prevention, accountability, coordination across federal agencies, and making help easier to find for older adults facing abuse, neglect, exploitation, or fraud. The announcement also says the Elder Justice Coordinating Council includes 17 federal departments and agencies and that the new plan builds on the council’s earlier recommendations with measurable steps tied to enforcement, prevention, and public awareness.
For LeadingAge Ohio members, the announcement is another reminder that financial exploitation remains a serious risk for older adults and a concern that reaches providers, families, and communities alike. HHS cited estimates that roughly one in 10 older adults experiences abuse, neglect, or exploitation each year, with imposter scams among the threats the new campaign is meant to address. Read the original HHS announcement. Three Democratic senators are urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to restart the suspended off-cycle nursing home revalidation process and set a new, expedited deadline for providers to submit detailed ownership, management, and related-party disclosures. In a June 3 letter to CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz, Sens. Cory Booker, Ron Wyden, and Elizabeth Warren said the continued pause leaves gaps in transparency and weakens oversight of who owns and controls skilled nursing facilities. CMS had suspended the prior Jan. 1, 2026, deadline after provider concerns about confusion, inconsistent contractor direction, and technical problems with the reporting process. CMS guidance issued in February says there is still no due date for submission, though the agency continues to expect providers to maintain the required information and submit it once a new timeline is announced.
LeadingAge has said it shares the goal of stronger ownership transparency and accountability, but continues to press CMS to fix the reporting process before restarting it. In its June 5 update, LeadingAge said providers have struggled with unclear reporting expectations, difficulty obtaining required information from outside entities, and inconsistent processing across Medicare Administrative Contractors. The organization said those issues show why CMS should rework the form and process so the agency collects the right information in a way providers can realistically complete. LeadingAge Ohio previously noted similar concerns when CMS first paused the requirement in December, while reminding members that the underlying disclosure rules have not gone away. Read LeadingAge’s update on the senators’ letter, CMS’s current guidance on the SNF attachment, and McKnight’s original coverage. Congress is drafting funding bills for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for fiscal year 2027. Take action now to support a strong Senate HUD funding bill and reject funding reductions proposed by the House. The House has advanced harmful cuts to rental assistance and housing supply programs at HUD—but the Senate can still take action to save and expand housing assistance for the next fiscal year! Act now to urge your Senators to make strong and smart investments in programs our communities rely on. You can personalize your messages to Congress with stories of how HUD funding directly supports residents and affordable housing communities. The Medicare Trustees’ 2026 Annual Report, released June 9, projects that Medicare’s Hospital Insurance (HI) Trust Fund will be unable to pay full benefits sooner than previously expected, with insolvency now projected to occur a quarter earlier than last year’s estimate. The report follows a significant shift in 2025, when the projected depletion date moved from 2036 to 2033.
According to the report, several factors are contributing to Medicare’s long-term financial challenges. Trustees cited higher projected utilization of skilled nursing facility and hospice services, increased Medicare Advantage (MA) spending, and lower anticipated revenue from income taxes on Social Security benefits resulting from recently enacted tax changes. The report also incorporates updated assumptions related to MA payment benchmarks and enrollment growth among higher-cost populations in Special Needs Plans.
Some factors helped offset these pressures, including lower-than-expected HI expenditures in 2025 and demographic changes associated with lower immigration and birth rates.
The report also highlights spending on skin substitute products as a major driver of Medicare cost growth over the past five years. Trustees note that recent changes in the CY 2026 Physician Fee Schedule are expected to reduce these expenditures. LeadingAge has previously expressed concerns about rising skin substitute spending, including comments submitted on the FY 2027 Hospice Wage Index Proposed Rule. Top Facilities must have processes in place to identify and report allegations involving abuse, neglect, exploitation, mistreatment, injuries of unknown source, and misappropriation of resident property within required federal timeframes. One commonly overlooked requirement is the distinction between events involving serious bodily injury and those that do not.
CMS defines serious bodily injury as an injury involving extreme physical pain; involving substantial risk of death; involving protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member, organ, or mental faculty; requiring medical intervention such as surgery, hospitalization, or physical rehabilitation; or an injury resulting from criminal sexual abuse.
Examples of alleged violations with injuries that may meet the definition of serious bodily injury include fractures, intracranial hemorrhages, injuries requiring hospitalization or surgery, amputations, severe lacerations requiring extensive treatment, and injuries resulting in death.
Under 42 CFR 483.12(c)(1), facilities must report alleged violations immediately, but not later than 2 hours after the allegation is made if the events that cause the allegation involve abuse or result in serious bodily injury, to the administrator of the facility and to other officials (including to the State Survey Agency and adult protective services where state law provides for jurisdiction in long-term care facilities) in accordance with State law through established procedures.
A facility’s policies and procedures for reporting under 42 CFR 483.12(b)(5) should specify the following components, which include, but are not limited to:
- Identification of who in the facility is considered a covered individual;
- Identification of crimes that must be reported;
- Identification of what constitutes “serious bodily injury;”
- The timeframe for which the reports must be made; and
- Which entities must be contacted, for example, the State Survey Agency and local law enforcement.
Top Judson Senior Living is marking a major milestone with the launch of Judson Link, the new name for its at-home membership program as it enters its 20th year. The Cleveland-based nonprofit says the rebrand reflects a clearer, lifestyle-focused identity for older adults who want to remain in their own homes while staying connected to practical supports, wellness offerings, cultural programming, dining, transportation, and care coordination. Judson says the change grew out of research showing the former name was often confused with traditional home care, while the new brand better reflects a membership model built around independence, engagement, and choice.
Judson describes the program as a virtual fourth campus, extending the organization’s reach beyond its physical communities and offering members access to services and relationships without requiring a move. The organization also says it has added dedicated leadership to support the program’s next phase, including an executive director and nurse liaison. For LeadingAge Ohio members, it is an encouraging example of how nonprofit providers continue to respond to changing expectations with new models that support older adults on their own terms. Read more about Judson Link and the original PR Newswire announcement. Top 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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