08/24/2023

PASSPORT Rules Unwind COVID Flexibilities

The Ohio Department of Aging (ODA) announced the open comment period for the PASSPORT program, specific to the Medicaid-funded component. According to ODA, Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) 173-42-03 proposes to do the following: 

1. The rule requires ODA’s designee to collect the individual’s handwritten or electronic signature as an agreement to continue as an enrollee in the program. To allow for social distancing during the COVID-19 public health emergency, ODA added a provision to paragraph (D) of this rule to allow collecting this signature at a later date. ODA now proposes to limit this flexibility to emergencies declared by the governor or a federal public health emergency. 
2. ODA proposes to continue requiring an ODA-approved enrollment agreement, but to no longer require the use of form ODA1044. 
3. To comply with R.C. §§ 106.03, 121.95, and 121.951, ODA proposes to reduce the use of regulatory restriction words (e.g., shall) in this rule. 

This accounts for a majority of the amendments to this rule. Please feel free to review the proposed new rule and offer recommendations for improving it. 

Submit recommendations to rules@age.ohio.gov no later than September 6, 2023 at 11:59PM.