CSTL 09-01

Community Services Transmittal Letter (CSTL) No. 09-01

February 3, 2009

TO:                Director, Ohio Department of Aging

Director, Ohio Department of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities

Director, Ohio Department of Mental Health

Director, Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services

Providers, ODJFS-Administered Home and Community-Based Services

Case Managers and Administrators, CareStar

Directors, County Departments of Job and Family Services

Directors, Area Agencies on Aging

Directors, County Boards of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities

Directors, Centers for Independent Living

Ohio Long Term Care Ombudsmen

Director, Brain Injury Association of Ohio

Directors, Members, HOME Choice Planning and Advisory Group

Chairperson, Ohio Olmstead Task Force

Director, Ohio Council for Home Care

Director, Ohio Home Care Organization

Vice-President, SEIU District 1199, WV/KY/OH

FROM:          Douglas E. Lumpkin, Director

SUBJECT:    Policy Changes Governing the Ohio Home Care Waiver Waiting List

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) has amended rule 5101:3-46-07 of the Administrative Code (OAC) as part of the implementation of Ohio's HOME Choice Demonstration Program.

New language expands opportunities for priority to include: (a) applicants who are residents of a Medicaid-funded NF at the time of application (regardless of their projected monthly cost of services); and (b) applicants who are inpatients of a hospital and have been determined by ODJFS to be eligible for the HOME Choice Demonstration Program (Money Follows the Person).

Prior to this amendment, OAC rule 5101:3-46-07 (Ohio Home Care Waiver: Enrollment and Waiting List Process) limited Ohio Home Care Waiver slot priority to two groups of people:

(1)      Children who are from birth up to, but not including, their sixth birthday, and who have been residing in an inpatient hospital setting at the time of, and at least thirty days prior to, application for the waiver; and

(2)      Applicants who are residents of a Medicaid-funded nursing facility (NF) at the time of application and have a projected monthly cost of services in the community that will not exceed 80 percent of the average monthly Medicaid cost of a Medicaid recipient residing in a NF.

Instructions:

Web Pages:

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services maintains an "electronic manuals" web page for the department's rules, manuals and handbooks. The URL is as follows:

http://emanuals.odjfs.state.oh.us/emanuals/

This transmittal letter and attachments may be viewed as follows:

(1)      Select "Ohio Health Plans - Provider" (right column).

(2)      Select "Ohio Home Care" (left column).

(3)      Select "Community Services Transmittal Letters" and "Ohio Home Care Rules" (in the "Table of Contents" dropdown).

Additional information about the HOME Choice Demonstration Program can be found at:

http://jfs.ohio.gov/ohp/consumers/HOMEchoice.stm.

Questions:

Questions about this CSTL should be addressed to:

Ohio Department of Job and Family Services

Bureau of Community Services Policy

P.O. Box 182709

Columbus, Ohio 43218-2709

http://jfs.ohio.gov/ohp/consumers/HOMEchoice.stm

(614) 466-6742