09/17/2026

When Will Mandamus Payments Come?

Next week will mark the three-month mark since HB479 passed appropriating $875 million (all funds) to pay nursing homes the amounts due as a result of the State ex rel. LeadingAge Ohio v. Ohio Dept. of Medicaid decision rendered by the Ohio Supreme Court in September 2025. While payments are anticipated imminently, this final timeline has been further stretched by procedural considerations imposed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). LeadingAge Ohio has been in regular contact with the Department of Medicaid leadership, which has regularly shared status updates. Unfortunately, unexpected requests from CMS have delayed the process and stretched the timeline.

At this point in time, we believe: 

• Medicaid has prepared communications for providers, which will be distributed via the contacts listed for providers via the Provider Network Module (PNM) system. 
• CMS has approved Ohio’s request to distribute both FFS and managed care portions of the payments directly to providers, with no managed care plan pass-through.
• CMS most recently requested Ohio file another waiver to permit it to issue payments that are 2+ years old. For this reason, ODM plans to issue payments in two tranches: one for QIP payments owed within the past two years, and once CMS approves this final waiver, a second tranche for the earlier payments. ODM did not disclose the cut-off date for the tranches. 
• Most providers will receive payments directly in a similar manner to how they receive other Medicaid payments. Medicaid has not yet shared the level of detail that will be included with payments.  

While Medicaid notes that payments could be made as early as this week or next, there could be other unforeseen delays. Additionally, while the aforementioned points represent our understanding as of today, it is likely that additional clarifying information will emerge. 

We recommend nursing home members verify who their contact is listed in the PNM system, to ensure they know to share communications with leadership once they arrive, and stay tuned to your inbox, as LeadingAge Ohio will alert members once payments & communications have been issued. Questions regarding this may be directed to Susan Wallace at swallace@leadingageohio.org.