You Asked... We Answered

You Asked: For a resident on Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP), is Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required to be placed immediately outside the resident’s room in the hallway?

We Answered: No. PPE must be readily available, but CMS does not require that it be placed immediately outside the resident’s room. The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Provider Resources and Education Program (PREP) training provides examples of PPE placement and emphasizes that PPE should be readily available for staff. The training also notes that PPE taken into a resident’s room is considered contaminated and should not be returned to clean house stock.

During a CMS stakeholder call, Christine Teagues with the CMS Division of Nursing Homes directed providers to CMS guidance addressing PPE placement. That guidance is now incorporated into the State Operations Manual, Appendix PP, under F880 – §483.80 Infection Control, which states: Discretion may be used in the placement of supplies which may include placement near or outside the resident’s room. PPE for enhanced barrier precautions is only necessary when performing high-contact care activities and may not need to be donned prior to entering the resident’s room.

Update PSR Information by Oct. 23 for 2027 Membership Dues

LeadingAge Ohio members should update their PSR information by Friday, Oct. 23, to ensure 2027 membership dues are calculated accurately. Nonprofit organizations should report PSR from line 9 of Form 990; organizations with for-profit tax status should provide total operating revenue from their most recent fiscal year income statement. Organizations that do not submit updated PSR information will be assessed a delinquency fee.

While updating your Company Profile, please also review employee listings and confirm contact information, including the billing contact who will receive the membership invoice. Access is limited to key contacts, billing contacts, and authorized contacts who may add additional authorized users through the profile. Questions may be directed to Molly Homan at mhoman@leadingageohio.org.

Technology Day with Hartman Executive Advisors

On Nov. 18 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., LeadingAge Ohio will host AI for Senior Living: Practical Tools, Compliance, and Competitive Advantage at Quest Conference Center in Westerville with Hartman Executive Advisors. The full-day program will cover AI use cases, implementation, data and predictive analytics, cybersecurity, governance, privacy and compliance, followed by a panel of Ohio providers discussing how their organizations are using AI, where they remain cautious, and what they have learned. View the full agenda and register for Technology Day.

Missed the First Shop Talk? Watch the Recording and Join Upcoming Sessions

LeadingAge Ohio’s new monthly Shop Talks are underway, giving members a regular forum for timely sector-specific policy and operational updates, questions and peer discussion. If you missed the first Nursing Facilities and Assisted Living Shop Talk, the recording is now available in the LeadingAge Ohio Learning Center. The monthly series continues Nov. 3 at 11:30 a.m.

Other Shop Talks begin this month, including Home Health & Hospice on Oct. 13 at 11:30 a.m. and Affordable Senior Housing on Oct. 20 at 11:30 a.m. Members can register for upcoming sessions through the Learning Center and return to available recordings when a live session does not fit their schedule.

Kick Off Annual Meeting at State Night Out

Start the 2026 LeadingAge Annual Meeting & Expo with colleagues from Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky at State Night Out on Sunday, Oct. 25, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at SPIN Philadelphia. Hosted by LeadingAge Ohio, LeadingAge Indiana and LeadingAge Kentucky, the evening offers time to reconnect with colleagues, meet new peers and enjoy a relaxed start to the week before Annual Meeting programming gets underway. State Night Out is open to provider members and business firms, with registration available for $50 for provider members and $150 for business firms through Wednesday, Oct. 21.

If Philadelphia is on your calendar, now is also a good time to finalize your 2026 LeadingAge Annual Meeting & Expo registration. The Annual Meeting runs Oct. 25-28 and brings together aging services professionals from across the country for education, peer exchange and the E2 expo. Register for Annual Meeting before the price increase, then add State Night Out to your Philadelphia plans.

Six Chances to Win Value First’s 5-Star Sweepstakes

LeadingAge Gold Partner Value First is once again giving LeadingAge members the opportunity to win big through the 5-Star Sweepstakes. Six organizations will each receive a $10,000 prize. Members who use Value First as the primary group purchasing organization (GPO) for their food program are automatically entered. Organizations not currently using Value First as their primary food GPO can enter by submitting a form and one month of food purchase data. Learn more and enter today.

Ohio Secretary of State Issues Voting Guidance for Nursing Homes

The Ohio Secretary of State’s office is asking nursing homes to review voting assistance procedures ahead of the Nov. 3 General Election. New guidance sent to nursing home administrators emphasizes residents’ right to vote while reminding facilities that staff must follow state and federal requirements when assisting with or handling absentee ballots.

What You Need To Know

• Ohio law allows county boards of elections to send two employees from the two major political parties to deliver and return absentee ballots for qualifying confined voters. 
• Certain family members may return a resident’s absentee ballot under Ohio Revised Code 3509.05(C)(1). 
• A voter who needs assistance because of blindness, disability or an inability to read or write may choose someone to assist them, subject to restrictions under federal law. 
• Facility staff should not assume they are permitted to possess or return a resident’s absentee ballot. Ohio Revised Code 3599.21 restricts possessing and returning another voter’s ballot unless an exception applies.

What Happens Next

• Absentee voting and early in-person voting for the Nov. 3 General Election began Oct. 6. Regular absentee ballots must be received by the county board of elections no later than 7:30 p.m. on Election Day. 
• Nursing homes should coordinate with their county board of elections in advance when residents need assistance voting. County boards can explain available options and arrange assistance for qualifying confined voters.

What to Do

• Contact your county board of elections to discuss voting arrangements for residents and determine whether bipartisan board assistance should be scheduled.
• Review the Ohio Secretary of State’s voting assistance and accessibility guidance, including information for confined voters and voters with disabilities. 
• Review voting procedures with employees who may be asked to assist residents, including restrictions on possessing or returning another person’s absentee ballot.
• Facilities assisting qualifying confined voters can review Form 11-F, Application for Absent Voter’s Ballot by Confined Voter or a Voter With a Personal Illness, Physical Disability, or Infirmity.

Residents’ Rights Month Highlights Choice, Dignity and Mealtime

October is Residents’ Rights Month, an annual observance led by the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care to recognize the rights, dignity and self-determination of people receiving long-term services and supports. The 2026 theme, Join Us at the Table, focuses on the role food and mealtime play in daily life, including personal choice, culture, traditions and community.

For LeadingAge Ohio members, the month offers an opportunity to ask residents what matters most to them at mealtime and consider how those preferences are reflected in menus, dining routines and shared experiences. Consumer Voice has developed Residents’ Rights Month resources and activities to support conversations with residents, families and staff throughout October.

CMS to Require Quarterly Publication of TPE Data

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will require Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) to publish Targeted Probe and Educate (TPE) results quarterly, beginning November 2, 2026. The change will provide greater transparency for nursing homes, hospice and home health providers by identifying common reasons for claim denials and helping organizations better understand billing errors and improve compliance. The policy follows continued advocacy from LeadingAge for greater transparency and provider due process in Medicare oversight.

Read the full article from LeadingAge.

Survey Tip of the Week: Emergency Contact Update

Federal and Ohio requirements address maintaining current contact information for resident representatives. Under F580 – §483.10(g)(14), Notification of Changes, facilities must record and periodically update the mailing address, email address, and phone number of the resident representative(s).

Ohio nursing homes have a specific timeframe requirement to periodically review resident contact information. Ohio Administrative Code 3701-17-19(A)(1)(a), Records and Reports requires each resident’s medical record to include identifying information, including the name and address of the resident’s nearest relative or legal guardian. When applicable, the contact information for the nearest relative or legal guardian must be reviewed and updated every six months to help ensure appropriate notification in the event of an emergency, quarantine, or closure.

ODH Answers Three MDS Coding Questions

The Ohio Department of Health recently clarified three Minimum Data Set coding scenarios. When a Quarterly assessment and Medicare 5-day PPS assessment share the same assessment reference date and are both the first assessments completed following a resident’s reentry, A0310E should be coded “1, Yes” on both assessments. ODH also clarified that GG0130, Self-Care, and GG0170, Mobility should be coded 01, dependent only when two or more helpers are needed for the resident to safely complete the activity. If a second staff member is present only for observation, witnessing, staff safety or facility policy, coding should reflect the assistance the resident actually needs.

ODH also addressed H0300, Urinary Continence, noting that voluntarily voiding in a brief is not considered urinary incontinence for MDS coding purposes. The MDS 3.0 RAI User’s Manual v1.20.1 defines urinary incontinence as the involuntary loss of urine, while a voluntary void is considered continence. Nursing home providers may submit future RAI questions to Cheryl Moya, RN, RAI and OASIS Education Coordinator and include “Question of the Month” in the subject line.

Buck Institute Brings Aging Research to Life Plan Communities

The Buck Institute for Research on Aging is bringing current research on aging directly to residents through its Longevity-Inspired Vitality Education program, or LIVE. The program gives life plan communities access to monthly seminars, master classes, and evidence-based resources covering sleep, nutrition, brain health, metabolic health, cardiovascular health, and other topics. Community staff can use the materials for resident programming and group discussions, while residents and family members can also access the resources.

LIVE is now being implemented in 60 communities, including LeadingAge members HumanGood, Kendal and Sequoia Living. Buck Institute Vice President of Strategic Partnerships Brian Van Weele will discuss the program during the 2026 Global Ageing Network Summit on Oct. 24 in Philadelphia, one day before the LeadingAge Annual Meeting begins. Members can read more about LIVE and the Buck Institute’s work with life plan communities.

Do You Have Exciting News? We Want to Hear About It!

To submit a news item, simply email Laurinda Johnson at ljohnson@leadingageohio.org. We can’t wait to celebrate your success!

Enroll for Winter 2027 Core of Knowledge

Enrollment is now open for the Winter 2027 session of the Core of Knowledge, a program designed for Administrators-in-Residence that fulfills the academic requirement set by the Board of Executives of Long-Term Services and Supports (BELTSS) for qualifying to sit for the state licensure board examination to become a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator (LNHA).

The three-week course will be held January 11–28, 2027, Monday through Thursday, at the OCLC Conference Center. This is one of only two opportunities to complete the required coursework in 2027.

The deadline to register is December 11, 2025. Learn more and register for the 2027 Winter Core of Knowledge. For additional information, contact Corey Markham at cmarkham@leadingageohio.org.