5111.97 Ohio access success project.

(A) As used in this section , “nursing facility” has the same meaning as in section 5111.20 of the Revised Code.

(B) To the extent funds are available, the director of job and family services may establish the Ohio access success project to help medicaid recipients make the transition from residing in a nursing facility to residing in a community setting. The project may be established as a separate nonmedicaid program or integrated into a new or existing program of medicaid-funded home and community-based services authorized by a waiver approved by the United States department of health and human services. The director shall permit any recipient of medicaid-funded nursing facility services to apply for participation in the project, but may limit the number of project participants.

The director shall ensure that an assessment of an applicant is conducted as soon as practicable to determine whether the applicant is eligible for participation in the project. To the maximum extent possible, the assessment and eligibility determination shall be completed not later than the date that occurs six months after the applicant became a recipient of medicaid-funded nursing facility services.

(C) To be eligible for benefits under the project, a medicaid recipient must satisfy all of the following requirements:

(1) The medicaid recipient must be a recipient of medicaid-funded nursing facility services, at the time of applying for the project benefits.

(2)

If the project is established as a nonmedicaid program, the medicaid recipient must be able to remain in the community as a result of receiving project benefits and the projected cost of the benefits to the project does not exceed eighty per cent of the average monthly medicaid cost of a medicaid recipient in a nursing facility

.

(3) If the project is integrated into a medicaid-funded home and community-based services waiver program, the medicaid recipient must meet waiver enrollment criteria.

(D) If the director establishes the Ohio access success project, the benefits provided under the project may include payment of all of the following:

(1) The first month’s rent in a community setting;

(2) Rental deposits;

(3) Utility deposits;

(4) Moving expenses;

(5) Other expenses not covered by the medicaid program that facilitate a medicaid recipient’s move from a nursing facility to a community setting.

(E) If the project is established as a nonmedicaid program, no participant may receive more than two thousand dollars worth of benefits under the project.

(F) The director may submit a request to the United States secretary of health and human services pursuant to section 1915 of the “Social Security Act,” 79 Stat. 286 (1965), 42 U.S.C. 1396n, as amended, to create a medicaid home and community-based services waiver program to serve individuals who meet the criteria for participation in the Ohio access success project. The director may adopt rules under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code for the administration and operation of the project.

Amended by 129th General Assembly File No. 28, HB 153, § 101.01, eff. 9/29/2011.

Effective Date: 10-01-2005