Ohio Medicaid HCBS waivers pay for nursing-home-level care delivered at home or in the community instead of in an institution. If your parent qualifies for a nursing facility but wants to stay home, a Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver is the program that pays for it. Ohio runs several under the federal HCBS waiver authority (Section 1915(c) of the Social Security Act), plus a managed-care overlay, Next Generation MyCare, that absorbs some of those waivers for people on both Medicare and Medicaid.

The waivers split into two universes run by two agencies. The aged-and-disabled universe is run by the Ohio Department of Aging (ODA) and the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM): it holds PASSPORT (older adults at home), the Assisted Living Waiver (older adults in licensed Residential Care Facilities), and the Ohio Home Care Waiver (adults under 60 with disabilities). The developmental disability universe is run by the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) and the County Boards of DD: it holds the Individual Options Waiver, the Level One Waiver, and the Self-Empowered Life Funding (SELF) Waiver. Sitting across both for dual eligibles is the MyCare Ohio Waiver, which folds PASSPORT and the Ohio Home Care Waiver into a single managed-care benefit in MyCare counties.

This guide is the anchor overview: which waiver fits which person, what each covers and excludes, the eligibility figures, how to apply, and how the waivers interact. The companion pieces go deeper on each: PASSPORT, the Assisted Living Waiver, the Ohio Home Care Waiver, and the MyCare overlay. For the application process, see how to apply for Ohio Medicaid.

Key Takeaways

  • This guide covers seven Ohio HCBS waiver programs: PASSPORT, the Assisted Living Waiver, the Ohio Home Care Waiver, the MyCare Ohio Waiver, and the three DODD waivers (IO, Level One, SELF). The aged-and-disabled side is run by ODA and ODM; the developmental disability side is run by DODD through County Boards of DD.
  • PASSPORT serves community-residing Ohioans age 60 or older who meet nursing facility level of care (NF LOC), with an individual cost limit of $14,700 per month for waiver services.
  • The Assisted Living Waiver pays for the assisted-living service package in a Medicaid-participating licensed Residential Care Facility, but never room and board, which is capped at $944 per month in 2026.
  • The Ohio Home Care Waiver (OHCW) serves Ohioans from birth through age 59 who have a disability and meet NF LOC; enrollees are disenrolled no later than 120 calendar days after their 60th birthday and are offered a transition to PASSPORT if they meet all of its eligibility criteria.
  • The MyCare Ohio Waiver folds PASSPORT and OHCW into the Next Generation MyCare FIDE-SNP plan for full-dual eligibles age 21 and older; ODM rolled it out in 29 counties on January 1, 2026 and is expanding statewide by August 1, 2026.
  • The DODD waivers are the Individual Options Waiver (comprehensive supports), the Level One Waiver (lower-intensity supports), and the SELF Waiver (self-direction). All three serve the developmental disability population and use an ICF/IID level-of-care standard; confirm the current criteria and service list with your County Board of DD or on DODD's own waiver pages.
  • Every HCBS waiver requires financial and clinical eligibility. Financially: monthly income at or below the Special Income Level of $2,982 in 2026 (with a Miller Trust if over income) and countable resources at or below $2,000 for a single applicant. Clinically: NF LOC for the aged-and-disabled waivers, ICF/IID LOC for the DODD waivers.

The Two Universes

Ohio's HCBS waivers run through two separate administrative pipelines. The aged-and-disabled pipeline is run by ODA and ODM, with the local Area Agency on Aging (AAA) as the intake and case-management body. The developmental disability pipeline is run by DODD, with the County Board of Developmental Disabilities filling that role. Families often learn this the hard way, applying for PASSPORT when they need the County Board, or the reverse. Knowing which pipeline applies before the first call saves weeks.

The simplest rule, by who qualifies for which:

  • Developmental disability present before age 22 (intellectual disability, autism, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury before 22, or similar): go to the County Board of Developmental Disabilities for the DODD waivers (IO, Level One, SELF), which use an ICF/IID level-of-care standard rather than the nursing facility standard.
  • Older adult age 60 or older needing personal care, homemaking, or community supports because of frailty, chronic illness, or age-related disability: go to the local AAA for PASSPORT or the Assisted Living Waiver.
  • Adult from birth through age 59 with a non-developmental disability (multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, ALS, stroke-related disability, complex medical conditions) needing community supports: go to ODM for the Ohio Home Care Waiver.

Edge cases (someone with both an intellectual disability and a separate age-related condition, or a disability that surfaced in adulthood) often need a call to both DODD and ODA. Both agencies redirect people routinely, so starting at the wrong door costs only a phone call.

The Ohio Medicaid Waivers at a Glance

Waiver Target population Age Level of care Setting Administrator Intake
PASSPORT Older adults in community 60+ Nursing Facility Home or community ODA via AAA 1-866-243-5678
Assisted Living Waiver Adults in Medicaid-participating RCF 21+ Nursing Facility Licensed Residential Care Facility ODA via AAA 1-866-243-5678
Ohio Home Care Waiver Adults with disabilities in community 0-59 Nursing Facility Home or community ODM 1-800-324-8680
MyCare Ohio Waiver Dual eligibles in MyCare counties 21+ NF (continues PASSPORT/OHCW LOC) Home or community ODM via MyCare FIDE-SNP plans MyCare plan or 1-800-324-8680
Individual Options Waiver Developmental disability, comprehensive All ages ICF/IID Home, family home, congregate, or independent DODD via County Board of DD County Board of DD
Level One Waiver DD, lower-intensity supports All ages ICF/IID Family home or own home DODD via County Board of DD County Board of DD
SELF Waiver DD, self-direction model All ages ICF/IID Home or community DODD via County Board of DD County Board of DD

PASSPORT: The Aged Community Waiver

PASSPORT (Pre-Admission Screening System Providing Options and Resources Today) is Ohio's most-used HCBS pathway for community-based long-term care for older adults. It is a Section 1915(c) waiver created under Ohio Revised Code 173.52 and governed by Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 5160-31. It is run by the Ohio Department of Aging through Ohio's Area Agencies on Aging.

The waiver also has a fixed authorized size. Ohio's current PASSPORT waiver (CMS control number 0198.R07.00, approved 06/07/2023 and effective 07/01/2023 through 06/30/2028) is authorized to serve an unduplicated count of 39,807 participants in each waiver year: the Appendix B-3 "Number of Individuals Served" table in the waiver application, as amended effective March 1, 2026, lists 39,807 for each of waiver years 1 through 5. That is the authorized ceiling on how many different people the waiver may serve in a year, not a count of how many Ohioans are enrolled today.

Who qualifies:

  • An Ohio resident age 60 or older at enrollment
  • Meets nursing facility level of care (intermediate or skilled, under OAC 5160-3-08), assessed by the AAA
  • Meets Ohio Medicaid financial eligibility at the institutional level: monthly income at or below the Special Income Level of $2,982 in 2026, with a Miller Trust for over-income applicants, and countable resources at or below $2,000 for a single applicant ($3,000 if both spouses apply); spousal-impoverishment rules protect a community spouse
  • An individual cost limit for waiver services not exceeding $14,700 per month
  • Lives in a community setting (home, apartment, family member's home), not a nursing facility or RCF

Services covered: the PASSPORT benefit package under OAC 5160-31-05 is limited to exactly 21 services, and nothing outside that list: adult day, alternative meals, choices home care attendant, community integration, community transition, enhanced community living, homemaker, home care attendant, home delivered meals, home maintenance and chore, home medical equipment and supplies, home modification, non-medical transportation, nutrition consultation, out-of-home respite, personal care, personal emergency response system, social work or counseling, structured family caregiving, vehicle modifications, and waiver nursing. Two bounds families routinely miss: the respite PASSPORT covers is out-of-home respite, and the transportation it covers is non-medical transportation. Home health aide service is not on the list; that is a separate Ohio Medicaid home health benefit, not a waiver service. Choices home care attendant and home care attendant are the self-direction route (see Ohio consumer direction).

Intake: Call 1-866-243-5678 to reach the Area Agency on Aging serving your community. The AAA performs the clinical assessment, refers the financial application to the County Department of Job and Family Services (CDJFS), builds the service plan, and assigns a case manager. PASSPORT is the most common entry point into Ohio's long-term services system for older adults.

The Assisted Living Waiver

The Ohio Assisted Living Waiver is a Section 1915(c) waiver under OAC Chapter 5160-33. It pays a Medicaid-participating, licensed Residential Care Facility for the assisted-living service package, but never for room and board.

Who qualifies:

  • An adult Ohio resident age 21 or older at the time of enrollment, per OAC 5160-33-03(B)(3)
  • Meets nursing facility level of care
  • Meets Ohio Medicaid institutional financial eligibility: income at or below the $2,982 Special Income Level and resources at or below $2,000 for a single applicant
  • Lives in (or is moving into) a Medicaid-participating, licensed Residential Care Facility in Ohio

What it covers: personal care, medication oversight, some meals, housekeeping, social activities, and limited skilled-nursing oversight within the assisted-living model. Room and board is excluded. Under OAC 5160-33-03, a participating RCF cannot charge more than the SSI federal benefit rate minus $50, which is $944 per month in 2026; the resident pays that from income.

The key constraint: the waiver pays a defined per-diem to the RCF, well below most private-pay rates, and facilities participate voluntarily. The participating-facility list is shorter than the full list of licensed RCFs in Ohio, so confirm a specific RCF participates and has an open Medicaid bed before counting on this waiver.

Intake: through the local AAA at 1-866-243-5678, coordinated with the RCF's admissions team. This waiver is the bridge between private-pay assisted living and full Medicaid coverage for someone who needs more support than PASSPORT provides at home.

The Ohio Home Care Waiver (OHCW)

The Ohio Home Care Waiver is a Section 1915(c) waiver run by ODM under OAC Chapters 5160-44, 5160-45, and 5160-46. It serves Ohioans from birth through age 59 who meet nursing facility level of care and live in the community. Enrollees are disenrolled no later than 120 days after their 60th birthday and offered a transition to PASSPORT.

Who qualifies:

  • An Ohio resident from birth through age 59 with a qualifying disability
  • Meets nursing facility level of care (intermediate or skilled), determined by a comprehensive assessment under OAC Chapter 5160-45, not the PASSPORT instrument
  • Meets Ohio Medicaid institutional financial eligibility: income at or below $2,982 per month and resources at or below $2,000 for a single applicant
  • Lives in a community setting

What it covers: fifteen services under OAC 5160-46-06: personal care aide, home care attendant, waiver nursing, home-delivered meals, home maintenance and chores, home modification, community integration, community transition, personal emergency response systems, out-of-home respite, structured family caregiving, adult day health center, supplemental transportation, supplemental adaptive and assistive devices, and vehicle modification. The individual cost limit is $14,700 per month for waiver services, though community transition, home maintenance and chore, home modification, self-directed goods and services, supplemental adaptive and assistive devices, and vehicle modification sit outside that limit. Supplemental adaptive and assistive devices carry their own cap of $10,000 per calendar year per individual (OAC 5160-46-11), and vehicle modification the same $10,000 per calendar year (OAC 5160-46-09). Personal care aide service can be self-directed through a non-agency worker rather than an agency employee.

Intake: through the Ohio Medicaid Consumer Hotline at 1-800-324-8680. Case management is provided by an ODM-designated contractor, a MyCare Ohio plan, or ODM itself. Many applicants are referred by hospital discharge planners, SSI/SSDI representatives, or vocational rehabilitation. For adults under 60 with serious disabilities, OHCW is often the only Medicaid pathway to community-based long-term supports.

The MyCare Ohio Waiver: The Managed-Care Overlay

The MyCare Ohio Waiver is structurally different from the others. MyCare uses managed care to deliver an integrated Medicare-and-Medicaid benefit through a Fully Integrated Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (FIDE-SNP), defined in OAC 5160-58-01 and 42 CFR 422.2 as a single entity holding both a Medicare Advantage contract with CMS and a Medicaid managed care contract with the state. In practice that means a participant's long-term services are delivered through the MyCare plan rather than through ODA/ODM fee-for-service; confirm with your plan and case manager exactly which waiver services carry over, since that is set by the plan's contract and your service plan rather than by a published statewide list.

Who qualifies:

What it covers: continuation of PASSPORT or OHCW services, plus all standard Medicare and Medicaid services, plus the integrated care coordination the FIDE-SNP model provides.

Intake: most participants enter through auto-enrollment, which moves full-dual eligibles into MyCare plans unless they opt out. Voluntary enrollment is available through the Ohio Medicaid Consumer Hotline at 1-800-324-8680, which is the member contact point for enrollment and plan questions. The hotline can also connect you to Anthem, CareSource, or Molina directly. For dual eligibles in MyCare counties, MyCare is the operational form of HCBS coverage even though the underlying authority remains PASSPORT or OHCW, which matters for service plans, appeals, and provider participation.

The DODD Waivers: Individual Options, Level One, SELF

Three DODD waivers serve the developmental disability population through Ohio's County Boards of Developmental Disabilities under the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities. All three require ICF/IID level of care and Ohio Medicaid institutional financial eligibility (income at or below $2,982 per month and resources at or below $2,000 for a single applicant).

Individual Options (IO) Waiver

The IO Waiver is DODD's comprehensive waiver, with the broadest service package and the highest expenditure ceiling. It supports people with developmental disabilities in settings from family homes to leased apartments to small group homes, and it has historically carried multi-year waitlists in many counties. Your County Board of DD reports your current waitlist position and the waiver's current service package; DODD publishes both on its Individual Options Waiver page.

Level One Waiver

The Level One Waiver is DODD's lower-intensity waiver, for people with developmental disabilities living in the family home or their own home with relatively lower support needs. It funds a narrower set of supports than the IO Waiver and operates under an annual expenditure cap; DODD publishes the current service list and cap on its Level One Waiver page.

SELF Waiver

The Self-Empowered Life Funding (SELF) Waiver is DODD's self-direction model. The individual or an authorized representative manages a budget, hires support workers, and directs services, which means it also asks for demonstrated capacity, with supports as needed, to direct the service plan. Current service categories and budget rules are on DODD's SELF Waiver page.

DODD Intake

All three DODD waivers are accessed through the County Board of Developmental Disabilities in the applicant's county. The County Board determines DODD eligibility, conducts the ICF/IID level-of-care assessment, develops the Individual Service Plan, assigns a Service and Support Administrator (SSA) as case manager, and coordinates with CDJFS for the financial application. Find your County Board at dodd.ohio.gov.

How HCBS Waivers Interact With Nursing Facility Medicaid

A nursing-facility-Medicaid resident moving back to the community can enroll in PASSPORT (age 60+), OHCW (under 60 with a qualifying disability), or a DODD waiver. Ohio's Money Follows the Person program, HOME Choice, supports these transitions.

In the reverse direction, a waiver participant whose needs exceed the community waiver's scope can move to nursing facility Medicaid. This commonly happens when:

  • The clinical condition deteriorates past what community services can safely support
  • The plan-of-care cost would exceed the waiver's expenditure limit (PASSPORT's is $14,700 per month)
  • The primary informal caregiver is no longer available
  • A specific need (24-hour skilled monitoring, behavioral safety, complex wound care) cannot be safely met at home

The transition under the same Medicaid eligibility is routine financially, though the patient-liability calculation changes because the personal needs allowance differs by setting. See Ohio nursing homes for the nursing facility side.

How HCBS Waivers Interact With Medicare

Medicare covers limited long-term services and supports. Medicare home health (under 42 CFR Part 484) is short-term, intermittent, and requires homebound status plus a skilled need; it does not substitute for an HCBS waiver. Medicare nursing facility coverage is short-term post-acute care, not long-term custodial care. Medicare Advantage plans may offer some non-medical home care hours, but those are plan-specific and do not replace the waiver pathway.

For dual eligibles (Medicare plus Medicaid), Medicare is primary for medical services and the HCBS waiver is the source of long-term community-based supports. In MyCare counties both are integrated under the Next Generation MyCare FIDE-SNP plan for full-dual eligibles age 21 and older. For more on the home care versus home health distinction, see Ohio home care vs. home health.

Application Pathway in Brief

The detailed procedural guide is at how to apply for Ohio Medicaid. The HCBS waiver application runs along two tracks that must converge:

  1. Financial track: the LTC Medicaid application (ODM 07400 plus the LTC supplement) filed with the County Department of Job and Family Services or through benefits.ohio.gov. CDJFS reviews income, resources, and the 60-month lookback for asset transfers under OAC 5160:1-6-06.
  2. Clinical track: the level-of-care assessment for aged-and-disabled waivers, or the County Board of DD eligibility determination plus ICF/IID assessment for DODD waivers. For aged-and-disabled waivers, the AAA also builds the service plan and assigns the case manager.

Once both tracks are approved, enrollment is finalized and services begin. Consumer-direction participants complete the Public Partnerships LLC enrollment for fiscal management at the service-plan stage.

What Ohio Medicaid Waivers Do Not Cover

Even the most generous Ohio HCBS waiver does not cover:

  • 24-hour one-on-one care in the home. Waivers cover defined personal care hours, but expenditure caps prevent full 24-hour staffing in most cases.
  • Room and board in any setting. Waivers cover services, not housing; Assisted Living Waiver residents pay capped room and board of $944 per month in 2026 from their income.
  • Long-term care insurance premiums.
  • Medical services Medicaid covers separately. Those are billed under standard Medicaid.
  • Services Medicare should pay. Medicare is primary for dual eligibles on Medicare-covered services.
  • Custodial nursing facility care. That is institutional Medicaid, not an HCBS waiver.

Cost-Effectiveness: Why Each Waiver Has a Plan-of-Care Cap

Every Section 1915(c) HCBS waiver must satisfy federal cost-neutrality: CMS approves a waiver only if the average cost of serving its population in the community does not exceed the cost of serving them in the institutional alternative. This is the federal gatekeeper that constrains waiver expansion.

Ohio implements cost-neutrality through individual plan-of-care expenditure ceilings. PASSPORT sets an individual cost limit of $14,700 per month for waiver services, and the Ohio Home Care Waiver sets the same $14,700 monthly limit, with several capital and one-time services sitting outside it. When a participant's needs would exceed the cap, the choice is to prioritize within the cap, request an exception where the waiver's rules allow one, or transition to nursing facility care. The cap is structural, not arbitrary, and understanding it before enrolling reduces the shock of a later transition.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Ohio HCBS waiver should I apply for?

Age and disability type decide it. Age 60 or older living in the community: PASSPORT. Moving into a Medicaid-participating Residential Care Facility: the Assisted Living Waiver. Under 60 with a non-developmental disability: the Ohio Home Care Waiver. A developmental disability: one of the DODD waivers through the County Board of Developmental Disabilities. A full-dual eligible in a MyCare county: the MyCare Ohio Waiver, which delivers the PASSPORT or OHCW services through the integrated MyCare benefit.

What does "nursing facility level of care" mean for the aged-and-disabled waivers?

Nursing facility level of care (NF LOC) is the clinical eligibility standard for PASSPORT, the Assisted Living Waiver, OHCW, and MyCare. For PASSPORT it is defined as meeting the criteria for an intermediate or skilled level of care under OAC 5160-3-08 and, absent the waiver, requiring nursing facility services as defined in 42 CFR 440.40. The assessment looks at activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, cognitive function, medical complexity, and the availability of informal supports. People meet NF LOC for different reasons: advanced dementia, physical functional limitations, or complex medical needs.

How long is the waitlist for Ohio HCBS waivers?

Waitlist status varies by waiver and year. PASSPORT, the Assisted Living Waiver, and the Ohio Home Care Waiver have generally been accessible without lengthy waits, though available Medicaid beds at participating RCFs can constrain effective access to the Assisted Living Waiver. DODD waivers, especially the Individual Options Waiver, have historically had multi-year waitlists in many counties; the County Board of DD reports your current position. The MyCare Ohio Waiver has no waitlist because it absorbs existing PASSPORT and OHCW services. For current status, contact the relevant intake agency.

Can someone be on more than one Ohio HCBS waiver?

Generally no, and for PASSPORT the rule is explicit. To enroll in PASSPORT, OAC 5160-31-03(B)(3) requires the individual to agree not to be simultaneously enrolled in the state-funded component of PASSPORT, the state-funded component of the assisted living program, another Medicaid home and community-based program, the residential state supplement (RSS) program, or the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). Each waiver sets its own exclusivity terms, so confirm with the intake agency for the specific waiver you are applying to. A person can transition between waivers as circumstances change (an OHCW enrollee turning 60 moves to PASSPORT; an IO Waiver participant entering a Medicaid-participating RCF may move to the Assisted Living Waiver), but each transition requires service-plan revision and approval. For dual eligibles in MyCare counties, MyCare absorbs the PASSPORT or OHCW services rather than adding a second waiver.

Can my parent get an HCBS waiver if they own a home?

Yes, with conditions. The home is an exempt asset for Medicaid eligibility while the applicant lives in it, plans to return to it, has a community spouse living in it, or has a blind or disabled child (or a sibling with an equity interest) living in it. Home equity above $752,000 in 2026 creates ineligibility unless a spousal or disabled-child exception applies. After death, the home may be subject to Ohio's expanded estate recovery, which reaches both probate and non-probate assets for recipients age 55 or older; see the Ohio estate recovery guide.

What is the difference between an HCBS waiver and home health under Medicaid?

Ohio Medicaid covers home health as a stand-alone benefit available to Medicaid recipients without HCBS waiver enrollment. Home health is intermittent skilled nursing, therapy, and home health aide service authorized by a physician and limited to specific medical needs. HCBS waivers cover broader long-term personal care, homemaking, respite, and community supports that are not medically necessary in the home-health sense. A waiver participant may also receive Medicaid home health for skilled needs; the two coexist. For more, see Ohio home care vs. home health.

Can family members be paid to provide HCBS waiver services?

Yes, under specific conditions. Through the consumer-direction options (Choices Home Care Attendant Service and Consumer-Directed Personal Care Service), the participant can hire and direct a paid caregiver, including a family member, who becomes the participant's employee through a Fiscal Management Service (Public Partnerships LLC for the aged-and-disabled waivers). Spouses generally cannot be paid, though a narrow conditional spousal pathway exists. Structured Family Caregiving is a separate model that pays a daily stipend to a live-in non-spouse family caregiver. See Ohio consumer direction and how to get paid as a family caregiver.

How does MyCare Ohio change the HCBS waiver experience?

For full-dual eligibles in MyCare counties, MyCare integrates Medicare and Medicaid coverage, including HCBS waiver services, under one managed-care plan. The underlying waiver authority (PASSPORT or OHCW) still defines the service set, but service delivery, case management, and provider authorization run through the MyCare plan rather than directly through ODA or ODM. For participants this usually means one point of contact, one ID card, and coordinated care planning. The trade-off is that MyCare networks can be narrower than open fee-for-service, and out-of-network providers may need prior authorization. Next Generation MyCare reaches statewide by August 1, 2026.

What if my parent gets denied for an HCBS waiver?

A denial can be financial (income or resources above the institutional limit, a transfer penalty, or home equity above the cap) or clinical (failing the NF LOC or ICF/IID determination). The State Hearing appeal process at the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services is available within the filing window from the date of the adverse notice; file at 1-866-635-3748. For appeals turning on clinical eligibility, current medical records, recent functional assessments, and physician statements matter. The Ohio Legal Aid network provides free legal help for low-income applicants. See how to apply for Ohio Medicaid for the full appeal procedure.

Next Steps for Ohio Families

For families starting an HCBS waiver application:

1
Step 1

Identify the correct pipeline

Aged-and-disabled waivers (PASSPORT, Assisted Living, OHCW) go through the AAA; developmental disability waivers (IO, Level One, SELF) go through the County Board of DD. MyCare absorbs PASSPORT or OHCW for dual eligibles in MyCare counties.

2
Step 2

Call the intake number

1-866-243-5678 for PASSPORT or the Assisted Living Waiver; 1-800-324-8680 for OHCW or MyCare; the County Board of DD for the DODD waivers.

3
Step 3

Start the financial application in parallel

through CDJFS at benefits.ohio.gov, in person at the CDJFS office, or with help from the AAA or County Board.

4
Step 4

Gather documentation early

Especially bank statements and resource records covering the 60-month lookback, because documentation gaps are the largest cause of delay.

5
Step 5

Prepare for the clinical assessment

The assessor reviews ADLs, IADLs, medications, cognitive function, and informal supports for aged-and-disabled waivers; the County Board conducts the developmental disability and functional review for DODD waivers.

6
Step 6

Stay engaged during processing

Respond promptly to verification requests and keep your contact information current.

7
Step 7

Plan the service mix

Once approved, work with the case manager to balance personal care hours, homemaker support, respite, and any consumer-direction components within the plan-of-care cap.

For deeper coverage, see the companion guides on PASSPORT, the Assisted Living Waiver, the Ohio Home Care Waiver, the MyCare Ohio Waiver, and the Ohio Medicaid hub.

Key Ohio HCBS waiver intake and information contacts, all free:

PASSPORT and Assisted Living Waiver Intake Statewide Area Agency on Aging line for PASSPORT and Assisted Living Waiver applications. 1-866-243-5678
Ohio Medicaid Consumer Hotline Intake for the Ohio Home Care Waiver and MyCare Ohio, plus general Ohio Medicaid questions. 1-800-324-8680
MyCare Ohio Plans (2026) Three MyCare FIDE-SNP plans are open to new members for plan year 2026: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, CareSource, and Molina Healthcare of Ohio. Enroll or compare them through the Ohio Medicaid Consumer Hotline. 1-800-324-8680
Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities Find your County Board of DD to apply for the IO, Level One, or SELF waivers. dodd.ohio.gov
Ohio Department of Aging Oversees PASSPORT and the Assisted Living Waiver. aging.ohio.gov
Ohio Department of Medicaid Sets waiver policy and administers the Ohio Home Care Waiver and MyCare Ohio. medicaid.ohio.gov
Public Partnerships LLC Fiscal management service for consumer-direction (paying a family caregiver). www.publicpartnerships.com
State Hearings File a denial appeal for any HCBS waiver adverse action. 1-866-635-3748https://ssp.benefits.ohio.gov/apspssp/pdf/JFS_04059.pdf
Pro Seniors Legal Helpline Free statewide legal helpline for older Ohioans. 1-800-488-6070
Disability Rights Ohio Free advocacy and legal support for Ohioans with disabilities. 1-800-282-9181

Learn More

MedicaidOhio PASSPORT WaiverHow the Ohio PASSPORT waiver works in 2026: age 60+ NF level-of-care eligibility, the assessment, AAA case management, services, and the $14,700 cost cap. MedicaidMedicaid HCBS Waivers by StateMedicaid HCBS waivers pay for care at home instead of a nursing facility. How 1915(c) waivers work, who qualifies, why waitlists happen, and your state's guide. MedicaidOhio Assisted Living WaiverWhat the Ohio Assisted Living Waiver covers, who qualifies, and what residents pay: room and board is capped at $944 a month in 2026, after a $50 cushion. MedicaidOhio Home Care WaiverHow the Ohio Home Care Waiver works in 2026: birth-to-59 nursing-facility eligibility, ODM administration, the service package, and PASSPORT at age 60. MedicaidOhio MyCare Ohio WaiverHow the MyCare Ohio Waiver works in 2026: OAC 5160-58 authority, the four FIDE-SNP carriers, passive enrollment, integrated HCBS, and two-stage appeals. MedicaidOhio Medicaid Eligibility & Income LimitsOhio Medicaid 2026 income and asset limits across the MAGI, ABD, and long-term-care pathways: the $2,982 income cap, the $2,000 asset limit, and Miller Trusts. MedicaidHow to Apply for Ohio MedicaidHow to apply for Ohio Medicaid: the application channels, form ODM 07216, the 60-month look-back, processing timelines, retroactive coverage, and how to appeal.

Find personalized help navigating Ohio Medicaid HCBS waivers at brevy.com.

The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.

BC

Brevy Care Team

Expert eldercare guidance from Brevy's team of healthcare professionals and researchers.