State Fiscal Year 2011
Introduction
2011 will be remembered as a significant year for Ohio's aging network. Through the leadership of Governor John Kasich's Office of Health Transformation, reforms that the Ohio Department of Aging (ODA) and its stakeholders in the Unified Long-term Care System Workgroup have been working toward for many years have finally been realized with the passage of the historic HB 153, which sets the budget priorities for SFY 2012-13.
Several OHT policies contained in HB 153 will help ODA and the aging network better respond to Ohio's ever-changing older population:
- A single point of care coordination. Provides the groundwork for a new Integrated Care Delivery System (ICDS) that will provide comprehensive, person-centered care addressing the physical health, behavioral health, long-term care and social needs of seniors and people with disabilities.
- A unified long-term care system. Creates a unified budget for long-term care services for seniors and people with physical disabilities, allowing individuals' choices, instead of political decisions, to drive spending decisions.
- Prioritized funding for home- and community-based services. Makes a significant investment in home- and community-based services for seniors and people with physical disabilities, providing unfettered access to PASSPORT services.
- Reform nursing facility payments. Completes the transition from a cost-based payment methodology for nursing homes to a price-based system. Additional nursing home payment reforms in HB 153 link more of the Medicaid payment to quality measures and increase the amount of funding for services provided directly to residents.
The demand for publicly funded services will continue to grow and impact policy decisions well into the future. The first wave of the Baby Boomers turns 65 this year. ODA realizes that this milestone is a testament to the advances in public health that now allow us to live longer and fuller lives. As a result, profound changes in our approach to how we meet the needs of our growing elder population are required.
ODA has taken a close look at the current system and developed a strategic plan that sets the course for Ohio to be on the leading edge of innovation and responsiveness to the growing and changing older population.
Working closely with Ohio's state and national aging network partners, ODA continues to refine its mission to ensure aging Ohioans have a wide array of high quality, person-centered services and supports so they can grow, thrive and contribute to this great State of Ohio.
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