06/05/2025

New Private Room Requirement to be Implemented by July 1

All nursing home members that applied for– and were approved for– private room payments will be required to have a policy in place prioritizing placement in private rooms no later than July 1, 2025. Additionally, they must participate in the resident / family surveys conducted by the Office of the State Long-term Care Ombudsman in partnership with Scripps Gerontology and Vital Research. 

The requirement was outlined in HB 133, codified in ORC 5165.158: 

5) Beginning July 1, 2025, to retain eligibility for private room rates, a nursing facility must do both of the following:

(a) Have a policy in place to prioritize placement in a private room based on the medical and psychosocial needs of the resident;

(b) Participate in the resident or family satisfaction survey performed pursuant to section 173.47 of the Revised Code.

LeadingAge Ohio is developing a sample private room policy and will include it in next week’s edition of The Source. Questions regarding this requirement may be directed to Stephanie DeWees at sdewees@leadingageohio.org.