Unresolved Medicaid funding obligations may delay or complicate Ohio’s capital budget this year, according to Senate Finance Committee Chair Jerry Cirino (R-Kirtland), as lawmakers assess the state’s overall fiscal outlook.
Cirino said legislative leaders have not yet received direction on a capital budget and noted that, unlike the operating budget, a capital bill is not constitutionally required. While leadership in both chambers has expressed interest in advancing a capital budget, Cirino said new and uncertain financial pressures are prompting a cautious approach.
Among those pressures is the Ohio Supreme Court’s decision finding that nursing facilities were underpaid through the Medicaid quality incentive payment formula. Although lawmakers enacted House Bill 184 to clarify how the Ohio Department of Medicaid will calculate quality incentive payments prospectively, the method and timing for addressing prior underpayments remain unresolved.
Cirino said the uncertainty surrounding the potential repayment obligation makes it difficult to commit to additional spending. He also cited other Medicaid-related pressures, including increased state responsibility for administrative costs under federal law and the possibility of higher state contributions to nutrition assistance programs if error rates are not reduced.
While capital projects are typically financed through bonds, Cirino emphasized that debt service and administrative costs ultimately draw from operating funds, requiring lawmakers to consider all known and potential liabilities.
Cirino indicated the General Assembly is likely to move forward with a reappropriations bill to support projects already underway and may continue to address additional operating budget corrections following enactment of HB 96 and HB 184. However, the timing and scope of a capital budget remain uncertain. Top You Asked: What is the timeline for the Ohio satisfaction surveys?
We Answered: The Family Satisfaction Survey runs from November 2025 through June 2026. During this period, all participating facilities will receive scheduling and participation instructions directly from the Ohio Department of Aging (AGE).
The Resident Satisfaction Survey is conducted in two phases between August 2025 and December 2026. Facilities should review the Phase I and Phase II assignment list to determine their survey window. Phase I interviews began in 2025, with public reporting following completion. Phase II scheduling and interviews occur in 2026, concluding with final reporting. Top LeadingAge Ohio welcomes members and partners to submit proposals for the 2026 Annual Conference and Trade Show, August 25–27, at the Hilton Columbus at Easton. This year’s conference celebrates Changemakers—leaders and teams advancing aging services through new ideas, tested approaches, and collaborative practice.
Proposals across all topic areas are welcome, with particular interest in home health and hospice, clinical practice and quality, reimbursement, marketing and communications, philanthropy, leadership development, technology, artificial intelligence, and workforce issues. Sessions should offer clear applicability for provider settings and avoid promotion of proprietary products.
The submission deadline is Monday, January 26, 2026. Full details and the application portal are available on the Call for Presentations page.
Questions may be directed to Corey Markham, Director of Education and Business Development, at CMarkham@leadingageohio.org. The Philanthropy Network invites organization leadership and development and finance professionals to join Paul Yeghiayan, CFRE, for a virtual presentation on how the new tax law will reshape the philanthropic landscape. With most provisions taking effect January 1, 2026, this session will help nonprofit leaders understand what’s changing, how it may influence donor behavior, and why it’s critical to engage donors now. Paul will unpack key impacts for high-net-worth and everyday donors and offer strategic guidance you can use today to support your fundraising success in the year ahead.
This presentation will take place January 29 at 10 a.m. Members may join here. Groundwork Ohio will join LeadingAge Ohio for the first All-Member Call of the year on January 21 at 10 a.m. to walk through Ohio’s new Child Care Cred program. The initiative is designed to reduce child care costs for working families by sharing responsibility across employees, employers, and the state. Under the program, families pay 40% of costs, employers contribute 40%, and the state covers the remaining 20%.
During the call, Groundwork Ohio will explain who qualifies, how employers can participate, and what Child Care Cred could mean for providers, parents, and the aging services workforce. Register through the Learning Center.
- January 8, 15, 22, 29, 2 p.m. - Governance Webinar Series with LeadingAge Virginia
- January 12-30, 8 a.m. - 2026 Winter CORE of Knowledge
- January 14, 11 a.m. - Survey Tips and Tactics 2026 – Immediate Jeopardy
- January 15, 1 p.m. - 2026 Reimbursement Collaborative: Strategic Solutions for QIP and PDPM Success
- January 21, 10 a.m. - All Member Webinar - Making Child Care Work: Ohio’s New Child Care Cred Program Explained
- January 29, 10 a.m. - Philanthropy Network, Tax Policy Changes
- January 29, 1 p.m. - Nutrition and Mental Health for Adults of All Ages with LeadingAge South Dakota
Top LeadingAge is now accepting nominations for its 2026 Leadership Award, recognizing an individual within a member provider organization whose leadership has made a measurable difference at the organizational or community level. The award honors leaders at all levels, with preference given to those serving outside the CEO and C-suite, whose work has strengthened outcomes, partnerships, and mission-driven impact.
More information on eligibility, criteria, and the nomination process is available through LeadingAge’s Awards & Honors program. The next Workforce Member Network call on Tuesday, January 14, at 2 p.m. ET will center on a proposed revision to the federal definition of a “professional degree,” a change that would affect federal student loan limits for certain post-baccalaureate programs. Fields expected to be impacted include nursing, physical and occupational therapy, and social work.
The Department of Education is expected to release a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in late January, followed by a public comment period. LeadingAge plans to submit comments and is seeking member input to inform that response. The January call will provide an overview of the proposal and create space for members to share how potential changes could affect recruitment, retention, and workforce development efforts.
All members with an interest in workforce policy and education financing are encouraged to participate. Members may sign up for the network here. Top Small, visible projects can move communities forward, and for a decade, the AARP Community Challenge has backed that idea with fast-turn grants focused on livability for people of all ages, especially those 50 and older. Now in its tenth year, the program is accepting applications through March 4, 2026, from nonprofit organizations and public entities proposing projects that can be completed by Dec. 15, 2026.
The 2026 cycle offers several funding options, ranging from modest flagship grants to capacity-building microgrants with technical support and larger demonstration awards that replicate proven approaches.
Full details, eligibility information, and the application portal are available through the AARP Community Challenge webpage, along with information on AARP Ohio’s Jan. 20 virtual information session. Ohio’s presumptive Democratic and Republican gubernatorial nominees both announced their running mates this week, signaling early policy priorities that could shape the 2026 election.
Democrat Amy Acton selected former Ohio Democratic Party chair David Pepper as her lieutenant governor pick, unveiling the ticket during a Columbus discussion centered on affordability challenges facing families and small businesses. Acton and Pepper emphasized rising housing costs, property taxes, child care access, and the need for greater transparency and accountability in state government—issues likely to resonate across health care, aging, and housing sectors.
Republican front-runner Vivek Ramaswamy named Senate President Rob McColley (R-Napoleon) as his running mate, pairing an executive-branch outsider with a veteran legislative leader. Ramaswamy outlined an agenda focused on property tax reductions, education reform, tax policy changes, and regulatory rollbacks, while Governor Mike DeWine formally endorsed the ticket, citing McColley’s experience navigating the General Assembly.
While campaign messaging varied sharply, both announcements highlight that property taxes, affordability, education, and health policy will be central themes in the governor’s race. The Ohio Health Care Association (OHCA) has named Scott Wiley as its new president and CEO. Wiley most recently served as CEO of the Ohio Society of CPAs (OSCPA), where he led the organization for more than a decade.
OHCA leaders cited Wiley’s experience in association management, policy engagement, and coalition-building as key strengths at a pivotal moment for long-term care providers.
“Scott’s leadership, depth of policy expertise, and proven track record of bringing members and policymakers together will provide strength and stability for OHCA now and into the future,” said Shayne Craycraft, chair of the OHCA Board of Directors.
Wiley succeeds Pete Van Runkle, who stepped down last year after leading the association through a period of significant change for Ohio’s long-term care system. Top CMS has expanded enhanced oversight and prepayment medical review to Ohio hospices, affecting both new and existing providers. Providers in other states under this oversight have reported high consequences when error thresholds are exceeded, leaving little room for error.
LeadingAge Ohio is monitoring this closely and will share updates as patterns emerge. Members with questions should reach out to Lindsey Buzzard, Director of Home Health & Hospice, at lbuzzard@leadingageohio.org.
New Hospices: Provisional Period of Enhanced Oversight (PPEO)
Hospices approved on or after December 30, 2025, are subject to PPEO if they are:
- Newly enrolling in Medicare
- Completing a CHOW under 42 CFR §489.18
- Undergoing a 100% ownership change (outside §489.18)
- Reactivating after deactivation
What PPEO means:
- Medical review, including prepayment review
- Review period of 30 days up to 1 year
- Small claim samples (often ~10)
- Very low tolerance for error (same acceptable error rate as TPE)
- No requirement for education or multiple review rounds
Notification is sent by mailed letter to the PECOS correspondence address.
Existing Hospices: Expanded Prepayment Review
CMS has also expanded prepayment review for existing hospices in Ohio.
- Low initial claim volumes
- Same acceptable error rate
- Education is not required
- CMS may impose 100% prepayment review, termination, or re-enrollment bars
What to Do Now:
- Confirm your PECOS address is current
- Be audit-ready (especially new/CHOW hospices)
- Reinforce eligibility, CTI, and admission documentation
- Prepare teams for rapid ADR response
Questions regarding this announcement may be directed to Lindsey Buzzard, Director of Home Health & Hospice at lbuzzard@leadingageohio.org. Top Facilities must promptly notify the ordering practitioner when laboratory results fall outside clinical reference ranges. “Promptly” means relaying results with little or no delay according to facility policies, procedures, and the practitioner’s orders. Surveyors cite F773 when abnormal results are not reported in a timely manner or when policies do not clearly define expectations for urgent notification.
Facilities should regularly review their policies with the medical director to ensure they reflect current standards of practice. Policies should clearly define which results require notification, the urgency of reporting, and how staff verify that communication was received. A monitoring process should also be in place to evaluate whether notifications are timely, effective, and consistent across all shifts. Top Small Town Adult Day Services marked a milestone for adult day care access in southern Ohio with a ribbon cutting in New Richmond, supported by proclamations from John Husted and Dave Taylor recognizing the project’s community impact. Founded by Chris and Carla Penningtonal, also the owners of Small Town Home Health Solutions, the new center was developed in response to a clear need for adult day services across southern Ohio. Located at 1041 Old U.S. 52 B in New Richmond, the former Berry’s Pharmacy site has been renovated into a 6,000-square-foot adult day center expected to open in 2026.
Small Town Adult Day Services will offer social, enhanced, and intensive adult day services from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, serving adults with a wide range of needs, including those with mild cognitive impairment. Services will include skilled nursing, therapy, caregiver respite, transportation, and nutritious meals that meet dietary requirements, along with accessible amenities such as wet rooms, a therapy space, and a quiet room. Registration is underway, with additional details available through the organization’s website. Otterbein SeniorLife has completed the purchase of Lake Vista in Cortland from Ohio Living for $15.4 million, according to Trumbull County auditor records. The sale closed Dec. 31 and brings the 21.8-acre campus—offering independent living, assisted living, rehabilitation, and skilled nursing—into Otterbein’s growing statewide portfolio. Prior to the acquisition, Otterbein operated senior life communities and neighborhoods across the Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, and Toledo regions.
Formerly part of Ohio Living’s network, Lake Vista was among five Ohio Living communities recognized by U.S. News & World Report in late 2025, earning Best Nursing Home status in the short-term rehabilitation category. LeadingAge Ohio congratulates both member organizations on the successful transition and looks forward to Lake Vista’s continued service to older Ohioans under Otterbein’s leadership.
Read the original coverage from The Business Journal. 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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