You Asked... We Answered

You Asked: Is there a list of documents surveyors review during a Life Safety Code survey?  

We Answered: Yes, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) has developed a Life Safety Code (LSC) Entrance Conference Documentation and Questionnaire form that outlines the documents surveyors typically request at the start of an LSC survey. Additional guidance is available in the  LSC Preventative Maintenance Manual, which details ongoing maintenance expectations and supporting documentation facilities should have readily available.

Join the Launch of LeadingAge Ohio’s New Technology Network

LeadingAge Ohio is launching a new Technology Network this February 11 at 9:30 a.m., and members who regularly use AI in their work are encouraged to be part of the conversation from the very beginning. This inaugural meeting is an opportunity to connect with peers across Ohio who are experimenting, implementing, and problem-solving with AI. The session will explore why the group is forming now, how LeadingAge Ohio is approaching AI governance in the first quarter of the year, and what members are already doing with AI in real-world settings. Information and a meeting link for the inaugural Technology Network is available here.

Finance Strategy Workshop - March 12

Senior living organizations are operating amid changing insurance and financing models, with growing pressure to adjust long-term financial assumptions. This one-day program convenes finance leaders from Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky for focused discussion of national senior living trends and their implications for nonprofit providers. Designed for finance professionals, the session centers on concrete approaches to long-range planning in an increasingly complex operating environment, including new cybersecurity threats, strategies for containing construction costs, and case studies in mergers/acquisitions. 

For complete details, including the agenda for the day, click here.

Maximize Your Membership: National Member Networking

As a LeadingAge Ohio member, your connection does not stop at the state line. Through LeadingAge’s national member networking, Ohio providers can engage with peers across the country who are navigating the same operational, workforce, and policy pressures. Member Networks bring together providers with shared interests for regularly scheduled virtual discussions, shaped by participant priorities and supported by national staff. Peer Groups offer listserv-based exchanges that make it easy to pose questions, share tools, and learn from colleagues working in similar settings nationwide.

National networking also includes the weekly National Policy Pulse, a members-only briefing that delivers timely federal policy updates and analysis from LeadingAge experts. For Ohio providers balancing local realities with national policy shifts, these forums offer practical perspective and a direct line to colleagues who understand the work. Participation is included with membership, and sign-up is straightforward through the LeadingAge member networking page, where you can explore networks, peer groups, and upcoming calls.

Registration opens for LeadingAge Leadership Summit

Registration is now open for the LeadingAge Leadership Summit, a national gathering that brings together aging services providers, business partners, and policy leaders for three days of learning, discussion, and connection. The summit offers a mix of keynote presentations, educational sessions, executive-level conversations, Capitol Hill meetings, and structured networking designed for senior leaders across the field.

This year’s keynote speakers include Safi Bahcall, author and innovation leader, and Laura Huang, whose work focuses on decision-making and intuition in leadership. Sessions will also feature perspectives from aging services leaders and subject-matter experts addressing workforce pressures, technology adoption, organizational culture, governance, and long-term growth.

The Leadership Summit includes dedicated programming and networking opportunities for board members, executives from multi-site organizations, and other senior leaders. Additional details and registration information are available through LeadingAge’s Leadership Summit registration page.

ODM Shares Early Update on Next Generation MyCare Ohio Rollout

The Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) provided an early status update on the Next Generation MyCare Ohio rollout during its January MyCare Advisory Work Group meeting, about three weeks after the program’s Jan. 1 launch in 29 counties.

ODM officials said the phased rollout approach—limited initially to counties already participating in MyCare—was intended to reduce disruption for members, providers, plans, and waiver service coordinators. Approximately 60,000 members transitioned from exiting plans, including about 15,000 receiving home- and community-based waiver services, which require more complex, individualized care plan transfers.

Among the notable changes in the Next Generation MyCare program is a new claims submission process. Claims now flow through ODM’s centralized “one front door” portal before reaching managed care plans, aligning MyCare with the state’s broader managed care system. ODM reported that claims are generally moving through as expected, though some early issues arose when providers or trading partners used Medicare identifiers instead of Medicaid member IDs.

ODM acknowledged reports of member and provider confusion during the transition, particularly related to enrollment communications, auto-assignments, and Medicare Part D plan notices for members whose prior MyCare plans exited the program. Officials emphasized that while outreach by plans before Jan. 1 was intended to support continuity of care, overlapping notices sometimes created uncertainty for members.

Provider payment concerns also surfaced during the meeting, especially among non-agency home- and community-based service providers. ODM reiterated MyCare’s prompt pay requirements, noting that most clean claims must be paid within 14 to 21 days depending on provider type, and said it is actively following up on reports of delayed payments.

ODM staff encouraged continued feedback as the rollout progresses and said the agency is closely monitoring enrollment transitions, claims processing, and provider payment issues as the program expands to additional counties later in 2026.

Shutdown Watch: Federal Agencies Release Lapse Plans as Funding Deadline Nears

With the January 30, 2026, deadline for Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations approaching and no final spending agreement in place, LeadingAge is tracking preparations for a potential partial federal government shutdown. Federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, have begun outlining lapse plans that could affect oversight, payments, and technical assistance relied on by aging services providers.

For Ohio nonprofit providers, the uncertainty raises operational questions tied to survey activity, payment timing, and program administration. LeadingAge is monitoring developments closely and sharing agency-specific guidance to help members anticipate disruptions and plan accordingly through its ongoing FY 2026 funding serial post.

Survey Tip of the Week: Survey Tip of the Week: Pressure Redistribution

Pressure injury survey deficiencies commonly arise when pressure redistribution interventions are not in place, have lost effectiveness due to age or condition, or are not reevaluated as clinical needs change. According to the State Operations Manual Appendix PP, pressure redistribution refers to the ability to distribute a load over a surface or contact area by shifting pressure from one area to another. This concept incorporates both pressure reduction and pressure relief and requires attention to all affected areas of the body. Surveyors expect facilities to demonstrate that pressure redistribution strategies are thoughtfully selected and consistently implemented based on the residents’ individual needs.

Appropriate support surfaces or devices should be chosen by matching the device’s potential therapeutic benefit with the resident’s specific situation, such as the presence of multiple injuries, limited turning surfaces, or the ability to maintain position. The effectiveness of pressure redistribution devices including gel mattresses, air-fluidized mattresses, and low-loss air mattresses depends on the resident’s level of risk, the resident’s response to the product, and the characteristics and condition of the device itself. Improper use may render these devices ineffective. For example, an overinflated overlay or one that “bottoms out,” leaving less than one inch between the resident and the support material, is unlikely to reduce pressure risk. Devices are most effective when used in accordance with manufacturer instructions and evaluated on an ongoing basis.

Surveyors consider whether static or dynamic pressure redistribution surfaces are appropriate for the resident’s condition. Static devices may be indicated for residents at risk for pressure ulcer/pressure injury (PU/PI) development or delayed healing. While specialized cushions or surfaces may extend sitting time, they do not eliminate the need for routine repositioning and skin assessments. Dynamic pressure reduction surfaces may be helpful when a resident cannot change positions without bearing weight on a PU/PI, when a static surface becomes fully compressed, or when a PU/PI is not healing as expected and pressure is contributing to delayed healing.

Special attention is required for high-risk areas such as the heels and elbows, which have limited surface area and are difficult to offload. Pillows that support the entire lower leg may effectively elevate the heel when clinically appropriate, while donut-type cushions are not recommended. Residents with severe flexion contractures may also require additional interventions to reduce pressure on bony prominences and prevent skin-to-skin breakdown.

Surveyors will review facility policies and procedures to determine whether expectations for selecting, using, monitoring, and reassessing pressure redistribution surfaces are clearly outlined and followed in practice. They will also evaluate whether staff are trained on and able to access manufacturer guidance to ensure equipment is set up, maintained, and used as intended.

CMS Updates Special Focus Facilities Program

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced updates to the nursing home Special Focus Facility (SFF) program on January 28, expanding on program revisions first released in October 2022. The changes include new guidance for state survey agencies to consider the prevalence of falls when selecting facilities from the SFF candidate list, as well as clarification of survey frequency requirements. Under the updated guidance, standard health inspections must occur at least once every 6 months, while Life Safety Code and Emergency Preparedness surveys will be conducted at least annually. CMS also revised how facilities are placed on the SFF candidate list, shifting from a review of the past three standard surveys to the past two. That change mirrors a June 2025 update to Nursing Home Care Compare, which removed the third survey cycle from Five-Star Quality Rating System calculations. The updates come amid heightened scrutiny of the SFF program, following recent reports from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of Inspector General examining SFF outcomes and the prevalence of falls in nursing homes.

Check out the LeadingAge Ohio Education Calendar!

LeadingAge Ohio holds valuable education webinars and in-person events throughout the year. Opportunities are added weekly. See the complete Schedule of Events.