This week, LeadingAge Ohio continued its advocacy on Ohio’s Medicaid nursing facility ventilator program, renewing requests made in February in an earlier request for information made by the Department of Medicaid. LeadingAge Ohio affirmed the Department’s proposal to require facilities employ respiratory therapy on a full-time basis, but allowing staffing to be on-call 24/7, rather than staffed 24/7 as originally suggested by LeadingAge Ohio.
LeadingAge Ohio praised changes to the program including maintaining a separate rate for ventilatory weaning services, requiring prior authorization for 100 percent of non-invasive / tier 2 residents, and discontinuing ventilator programs that have not billed nor served individuals in the past 12 months.
LeadingAge Ohio again encouraged the Department to align its coverage requirements with Medicare guidelines for ventilator care, which defines ventilatory dependence by blood gas levels as well as dependency on the ventilator for at least four hours per day (nonconsecutive), for at least 70 percent of days.
To review LeadingAge Ohio’s full comments click here. If your organization offers ventilator care, please reach out to swallace@leadingageohio.org.