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Ohio Medicaid Waivers and Assisted Living

The Assisted Living Waiver, PASSPORT and MyCare Ohio are three different programs. Here is what each actually pays for.

HomeCosts & PayingOhio Medicaid Waivers and Assisted Living
Short answer

Ohio has no single combined managed-care waiver for seniors. The Assisted Living Waiver pays for care services inside a licensed Residential Care Facility but not room and board. PASSPORT pays for in-home services only. MyCare Ohio coordinates care for people eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. None of the three pays a family's full monthly assisted living bill.

Three different programs, easily confused

Families researching Ohio senior care funding often assume there is one waiver to apply for, the way some other states run a single combined program. Ohio splits long-term services and supports across three separate programs, two run by the Ohio Department of Aging and one a Medicaid managed care demonstration.

ProgramWhere care happensPays room and board?
Assisted Living WaiverInside a licensed RCFNo — capped resident payment only
PASSPORTAt homeNo — in-home program only
MyCare OhioCoordinates across settingsDepends on the underlying service authorized
How Cleveland families pay for care. Medicare does not cover assisted living. Ohio's long-term supports run through the Assisted Living Waiver, PASSPORT, and MyCare Ohio for dual-eligibles, none of which cover room and board in assisted living. Read the full explanation →

Questions Cleveland families ask

What happens after someone files an Adult Protective Services report in Ohio?

Once a county APS agency, such as Cuyahoga County's Division of Senior and Adult Services, receives a report, caseworkers assess the situation, which may include a home visit, interviews, and coordination with law enforcement or medical providers if warranted. Outcomes range from connecting the individual with support services to, in serious cases, pursuing legal intervention such as guardianship; APS acts to protect the adult's safety while respecting their right to make their own decisions where they have capacity to do so.

What should I expect from discharge planning at Cleveland Clinic's main campus?

Cleveland Clinic's discharge planning is handled by case managers and social workers, and the main campus operates a Departure Lounge specifically to help coordinate a patient's transition out of the hospital. Cleveland Clinic also operates additional regional hospitals throughout Northeast Ohio beyond the main Euclid Avenue campus, so discharge processes can vary slightly by location.

How does discharge planning work at University Hospitals in Cleveland?

University Hospitals, an integrated network of 21 hospitals and more than 50 health centers across 16 counties in northern Ohio with UH Cleveland Medical Center as its flagship, typically begins case management review within 24 hours of admission according to its "Going Home" discharge materials. This early start is meant to give families more lead time before an actual discharge date is set.

What does discharge planning look like at MetroHealth?

MetroHealth, Cuyahoga County's safety-net health system with five hospitals, four emergency departments, and more than a dozen health centers, handles discharge planning through its Social Work department, centered at its main campus, home to the county's Level I Adult Trauma Center. Families should expect Social Work staff to coordinate post-discharge needs including home care referrals, rehab placement, or facility transitions.

I only got 48 hours' notice for my parent's hospital discharge in Cleveland. What should I do first?

Contact the hospital's assigned case manager or social worker immediately to clarify the recommended level of care, home with services, short-term rehab, or a facility placement, and simultaneously start calling your county's Area Agency on Aging, Western Reserve for Cuyahoga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, or Geauga counties, or Direction Home Akron Canton for Summit or Portage, to explore PASSPORT, the Assisted Living Waiver, or other support options in parallel with any private-pay search.

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