The Issue
Our state's existing systems for long-term services and supports (LTSS) do not meet the needs or desires of older Ohioans and are fiscally unsustainable. Ohio currently ranks 39th out of 50 states in serving Medicaid long-term care patients in home- and community-based settings. According to an AARP survey, 85 percent of Ohioans would prefer to receive long-term services and supports in their own homes.
The Goal
Unifying the state's long-term care services and supports is an important first step to contain costs for the state and give our citizens the support they need in the settings they desire. With unified long-term care systems:
- Consumers will receive the right services in the right settings and at the right cost;
- The LTSS will be more balanced between institutional and home- and community-based care;
- Medicaid costs will be contained as older individuals choose lower cost home- and community-based options over care in a facility;
- Outcomes for seniors and those with disabilities will be improved;
- State agencies will share information more effectively; and
- Administrative duplication for state and local agencies, as well as providers, will be reduced.
The Process
State leaders charged the director of the Ohio Department of Aging to lead a workgroup to develop the framework for unifying the state's long-term care systems. A workgroup of representatives from state agencies, local boards, administrative entities, associations and providers, as well as more than 300 subcommittee members, produced more than 120 unanimous recommendations for systems reform in May 2009.
"Building a Cost-effective, Consumer-friendly Long-term Services and Supports System: Final Report of the Unified Long-Term Care Budget Workgroup"
Unified Long-term Care Systems Workgroup Members
Unified Long-term Care Systems Workgroup Mission/Vision/Outcomes
Some key points of the workgroup's recommendations are:
- Combine similar Medicaid waivers into a single waiver, thus expanding consumer self-direction;
- Support agency collaboration to regularly forecast and review costs and caseloads;
- Create a "no wrong door" approach to information and referral that will expedite consumers' access to services;
- Build a more inclusive array of services.
- Ensure nursing facility residents have the information and assistance needed to relocate to home- and community-based services.
Under the current executive budget, the Unified Long-term Care Systems Workgroup continues to meet and implement its recommendations in an effort to help balance Ohio's systems. Eventually, the unified long-term care systems will serve all consumers with chronic or recurring needs for services, regardless of age or disability.
Please view the updates on the right for the latest meeting information and other resources to individuals and entities with a stake in the development of a unified long-term care system in Ohio. Subscribe to E-mail Updates and be notified via e-mail when new information is added. Be sure to select "Unified Long-term Care System Planning" under topic areas.
