01/15/2026

Delays in Rate Packages Persist

Nursing home members across the state continue to wait on their rate packages for 1/1/2026 in anticipation of February billing. The rates, published every January and July 1, are typically released either the final week of the month or the first week of the effective month, though delays have occurred in the past. 

LeadingAge Ohio is particularly focusing on Ohio’s private room payments, for which FY 2026 is the first complete year in which the rooms will be billed. The pool for these funds is limited, and when it is exhausted during a fiscal year, payments will cease until the beginning of the next fiscal year. Due to the mandamus action, Medicaid has not previously shared the “burn rate” for the private room payments, which would allow nursing homes to anticipate when the pool of funding is exhausted.

LeadingAge Ohio will continue to monitor this issue, hopeful that we will see the packages published in the coming days. Questions may be directed to Susan Wallace at swallace@leadingageohio.org.