By Lisa M. Marn, M.Ed., PCA Program Contract/LTSS Supervisor
Happy 2024! I wish I could say that 2024 brought a solution to the direct care workforce crisis, but it did not. Nevertheless, there are some improvements to report.
In September 2023, I attended the Celebrate Our Carers event sponsored by the Ohio Olmsted Taskforce in Columbus, Ohio. The event was to educate legislators and State department employees of the importance of direct care workers and to show appreciation to our workers. As part of the education piece, I debuted the video titled “The Impact of the Direct Care Workforce Crisis on Ohioans with Disabilities” produced by SIL. I would like to thank Elizabeth Brassell, Scott Fedor, Kym Sellers, and Richard Smyrak for their willingness to share their stories. They gave viewers a real picture of the struggles that Ohioans with disabilities face daily. Please take some time to watch the video at https://youtu.be/vrI19Cr-dYE?si=FpJDZcYGPcvfnWEe.
In November 2023, the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) formed a Self-Direction Workgroup and I am a member of this group. Self-Direction is an option in the MyCare Ohio waiver, DODD SELF Waiver, and Aging Waivers, but it is not an option currently for the Ohio Home Care Waiver. Users of the self-direction option in the waivers in which it is an option report that it is not running smoothly. The Self-Direction Workgroup’s goal is to revamp the way self-direction is currently implemented in Ohio as well as add it to the Ohio Home Care Waiver. The go-live date is July 1st, 2024.
January 1st, 2024 brought an increase in the pay rates for the various waiver provider types. Advocates have been working to get rate increases for some time and it finally came to fruition. Independent providers or non-agency providers will receive the rate increase. Agency rates were also increased; however, it is unclear if it will trickle down to the workers. The new fee schedules for the different waivers can be found at the following website: https://medicaid.ohio.gov/resources-for-providers/billing/fee-schedule-and-rates/schedules-and-rates.
SIL is dedicated to advocate for ways to improve the current Direct Care Workforce Crisis. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me, Lisa Marn, by phone at (216) 389-0379 or by Email at lmarn@sil-oh.org.