The state and federal government are at war against fraud in Ohio, acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said Thursday at a news conference in central Ohio.
"And this is a war we will win," Blanche continued.
Blanche delivered that message alongside other federal and state officials at a press conference at Defense Supply Center Columbus while announcing a "historic fraud-fighting partnership with state of Ohio officials."
Details of the federal-state partnership touted by officials include new data sharing facilitated by Secretary of State Frank LaRose's office, State Auditor Keith Faber's application to a Department of Justice grant program to detail special prosecutors to the DOJ Fraud Division, and State Treasurer Robert Sprague's joining of a statewide benefits fraud enforcement task force initiated by the U.S. attorney's office.
Officials also announced several new indictments that Blanche said represent charges against 14 individuals alleging schemes targeting more than $50 million in Ohio, according to Blanche.
Blanche called it "staggering but just the tip of the iceberg both in Ohio and nationwide."
Appearing alongside him were FBI Director Kash Patel and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz, along with state officials Attorney General Dave Yost and Faber.
At the press conference, the suspension of 49 Medicaid providers was announced, though the list is yet to be published. These suspensions come two weeks behind Governor DeWine’s announcement of a statewide moratorium for home health and hospice providers. LeadingAge is continuing to monitor this emerging story. A hospice integrity initiative developed by LeadingAge Ohio and championed by Rep. Andrea White (R-Kettering) took two major steps forward Wednesday, receiving its first hearing in the House Health Committee before being incorporated later that day into the House's broader Medicaid anti-fraud legislation, HB 795, known as the SHIELD Act.
The developments significantly increase the likelihood that key hospice oversight and transparency reforms will advance this session.
HB 945 was introduced following months of work led by LeadingAge Ohio in collaboration with hospice providers, regulators, policymakers, and industry stakeholders. After discussions with LeadingAge Ohio about growing concerns surrounding hospice oversight and quality, Rep. White agreed to sponsor and champion the legislation, working closely with stakeholders to refine the proposal and move it through the legislative process.
During sponsor testimony, White said the bill is intended to strengthen oversight, increase transparency and accountability, and help patients and families identify high-quality hospice providers they can trust.
White noted that Ohio was added to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' Enhanced Oversight Program in late 2025 and pointed to the rapid growth of hospice providers across the state. Citing information from LeadingAge Ohio, she noted that much of that growth has occurred in already saturated metropolitan markets rather than in underserved rural communities.
"LeadingAge had been collecting input from their members to develop legislation that would help ensure Ohio's hospice programs' integrity and quality are maintained, and patients and Ohio tax dollars are protected," White told committee members.
The bill, as amended in committee, includes provisions to:
- Increase hospice license renewals from every three years to annually.
- Establish a six-month moratorium on new hospice licenses, with exceptions for underserved areas.
- Require verified office space and visible signage.
- Strengthen ownership, leadership, and operational accountability requirements.
- Limit administrators and medical directors to serving a single hospice organization, with rural exceptions.
- Require reporting and monitoring of quality and utilization measures, including live discharge rates, length of stay, family satisfaction, transitions of care, service delivery, and aggregate cap utilization.
White also highlighted concerns that nearly half of Ohio hospices currently opt out of certain federal quality reporting requirements, limiting information available to consumers making end-of-life care decisions.
Rep. Bill Roemer (R-Richland Township), the bill's joint sponsor, said the proposal focuses on increased oversight, licensure standards, compliance monitoring, and transparency.
Later Wednesday, House Medicaid Committee members adopted a new substitute version of HB 795, the House's sweeping Medicaid fraud and program integrity proposal. The substitute bill incorporates the hospice integrity provisions from HB 945, ensuring those reforms will continue moving forward as part of the larger Medicaid package.
For members who want to review the language directly, the hospice provisions in the current substitute bill appear primarily on pages 86 through 100. The licensure and ownership changes begin on pages 86 to 91, operational requirements appear on pages 92 to 95, and the leadership and monitoring provisions appear on pages 98 to 100. A comparative synopsis of the previous and substitute versions of HB 795 is available here.
The action comes amid heightened state and federal attention on Medicaid program integrity and follows months of discussion regarding fraud prevention, provider oversight, and accountability across the healthcare system.
This legislation is fast-moving. For more information and updates, visit LeadingAge Ohio’s Hospice Integrity page. Top You Asked: Are nurse aides required to have a 90-day evaluation?
We Answered: The Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) 3701-17-07.1 states that each long-term care facility will provide each nurse aide with a regular performance review to ensure that individuals working in the facility as nurse aides are competent to perform the nursing and nursing-related services they perform. Performance reviews will be conducted at least 90 days after the nurse aide successfully completes the competency evaluation program or commences work in the facility, and annually thereafter. The performance review will be conducted by the aide's immediate supervisor or a nurse designated by the facility to conduct the performance evaluations and consist, at a minimum, of an evaluation of the nurse aide's working knowledge, application of the principles of person-centered care, and clinical performance. The facility will maintain a written record of each performance review. Top LeadingAge Ohio’s Nominating Committee is seeking nominees for the LeadingAge Ohio Board of Directors and rising leaders within member organizations to serve on LeadingAge Ohio committees. The nomination period is open through June 30. Learn more and apply here. Sponsorship opportunities are available for LeadingAge Ohio’s 2026 Annual Conference and Trade Show, themed “Celebrating the Changemakers.” Options include attendee materials, event signage, networking events, and digital placements, with price points ranging from $1,000 to $3,000.
Available sponsorships include the speaker gift bag, awards luncheon, hotel key card back, Wi-Fi signage, registration confirmation email, notebooks, and conference application splash page. Some opportunities are limited, and the registration desk sponsorship is reserved for LeadingAge Ohio Business Firm Members.
Download the sponsorship flyer or visit the conference website at www.laoconference.org/sponsor.
For details or reservations, contact Corey Markham at cmarkham@leadingageohio.org. The Philanthropy Network is hosting its first in-person networking event of the year on Friday, June 12, 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. in Columbus. The Columbus Foundation is joining us to discuss donor-advised funds and stewardship 101, followed by open idea and resource sharing with the group. Whether development is your full-time job or just one of the many hats you wear, the Philanthropy Network is built for you! For more information, email Molly Homan at mhoman@leadingageohio.org. We all have those people in our lives - whether colleague, resident, patient, or loved one - who have made an indelible and positive change in our lives. The interactive exhibit, Hall of Changemakers, is your opportunity to recognize the impact of these incredible individuals at the LeadingAge Ohio Annual Conference. In sharing our changemakers and their stories, we not only celebrate these individuals but also inspire others. Learn more here. The LeadingAge Ohio Technology & Innovation Network will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, June 10, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.. This meeting will bring members together for an open forum discussion about the technology questions, operational challenges, and emerging trends organizations are navigating across aging services. Bring your frustrations, current projects, questions, and recent wins to the group. We will also share a brief overview of technology and artificial intelligence resources available through LeadingAge Ohio and LeadingAge, including the LeadingAge Ohio AI Toolkit and LeadingAge CAST resources. Top Stepping into the CEO role brings unique challenges—and few safe spaces to process them. LeadingAge’s Fellowship Program for New CEOs is designed specifically for leaders navigating their first years in this new role. Reflective conversation, leadership tools, and a trusted peer network help participants gain clarity and confidence in their leadership approach. Designed for new leaders who have been in the CEO seat for up to three years, this virtual fellowship offers members an opportunity to pause, learn, and grow alongside peers who truly understand the opportunities and challenges every new CEO faces. Space is limited—registration closes June 5. It’s not too late to recognize outstanding colleagues and peers for two prestigious awards. The nomination deadline for both the LeadingAge Award of Honor and the Joan Anne McHugh Award for Excellence in Frontline Nurse Supervision is approaching fast. Help LeadingAge spotlight deserving leaders who make America a better place to grow old.
See the Award criteria and submit an online nomination by June 17! Top Beginning July 1, 2026, eligible students will be able to use federal Workforce Pell Grants to pay for approved short-term training programs, including many that prepare individuals for direct care careers. The new program is intended to make workforce training more affordable and help address staffing shortages in healthcare and aging services.
The grants will be available for qualifying programs as short as eight weeks that lead to in-demand occupations.
For more information, read the full article from McKnight's Senior Living. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and members of the Senate Finance Committee on May 20, 2026, launched a new long-term care initiative seeking stakeholder feedback on expanding home care access, improving nursing home quality, and strengthening the workforce. Read more about the initiative and opportunities for input. Top Under K-tag 921, facilities must ensure that patient care-related electrical equipment (PCREE) is tested and maintained in accordance with NFPA 99 requirements. This includes both fixed and portable equipment used in resident care areas. Surveyors may review whether:
- Patient care-related electrical equipment is tested before being placed into service and after any repair or modification.
- Testing intervals have been established through facility policies and procedures.
- Manufacturer service manuals, instructions, and maintenance recommendations are readily available and incorporated into the facility's maintenance program.
- Safety labels and operating instructions remain legible on equipment.
- Records of testing, repairs, and modifications are maintained according to facility policy.
- Staff responsible for testing, maintaining, and using electrical equipment receive ongoing training.
Facilities should note that a record of electrical equipment tests, repairs, and modifications must be maintained for a period of time to demonstrate compliance in accordance with the facility's policy. LeadingAge members now have access to updated skilled nursing facility and hospice reports in the Members-Only Report Portal, using their LeadingAge login. For nursing home members, the latest Five Star Reports reflect the May 27 update to Nursing Home Care Compare. Because this was a monthly update rather than a quarterly refresh, members may see changes to Health Inspection scores, while Staffing and Quality Measures will remain the same.
This is a valuable member benefit for organizations tracking performance, preparing for survey activity, and staying current with federal data updates. Members can log in to the Report Portal to review their latest reports.
Questions about SNF reports may be directed to Jodi Eyigor. Top Congratulations to Valley Hospice on the continued growth of its Caring Connections palliative care program. Hospice News reports that a recent $150,000 grant will support the addition of a nurse practitioner, helping the nonprofit expand home-based palliative care in eastern Ohio and the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia. As more providers work to meet serious illness needs earlier and more effectively, LeadingAge Ohio is also now offering palliative care membership for organizations seeking education, advocacy, and peer connection in this area. Read the original coverage from Hospice News. Top LeadingAge Ohio holds valuable education webinars and in-person events throughout the year. Opportunities are added weekly. See the complete Schedule of Events. Top
|
