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Rule 173-3-01 | Older Americans Act: introduction and definitions.
(A) Introduction: This chapter regulates AAA-provider agreements for services paid, in whole or in part, with Older Americans Act funds. (B) Definitions: The definitions in rule 173-2-01 of the Administrative Code apply to this chapter. Last updated February 3, 2025 at 8:19 AM Supplemental Information |
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Rule 173-3-04 | Older Americans Act: general requirements for AAA-provider agreements.
(A) Authority: Each AAA shall enter into AAA-provider agreements ("agreements") to develop and implement a comprehensive and coordinated system of services for consumers and their caregivers. Each AAA is ultimately responsible to AGE for ensuring that all state and federal funds received from AGE are used in a manner that complies with this chapter and the uniform administrative requirements, cost principles, and audit requirements for federal awards under 2 C.F.R. Part 200 as adopted by 2 C.F.R. part 300. (B) Purchase-of-service agreements: (1) As used in this rule, "purchase-of-service agreements" means an agreement through which a provider is paid, wholly or in part, with Older Americans Act funds a pre-determined unit rate for only the services it actually provides in accordance with the agreement. (2) The AAA shall only enter into purchase-of-service agreements, unless the requirements of paragraph (C) of this rule are met. (C) Time-and-materials agreements: (1) As used in this rule, "time-and-materials agreement" means an agreement through which a provider is paid, in whole or in part, with Older Americans Act funds for the services it provides to consumers based on the provider's actual costs (i.e., time and materials) and not on a pre-determined unit rate. (2) The AAA is not required to obtain authorization from AGE before entering into a time-and-materials agreement if the agreement only pertains to the provision of one or more of the following services: home maintenance and chores; client finding; home modification; information and assistance (referrals); mass outreach; socialization; telephoning; visiting; or services provided through the national family caregiver support program. (3) The AAA may obtain authorization from AGE to enter into a time-and-materials agreement for the provision of a service not listed in paragraph (C)(2) of this rule. (D) Any agreement shall contain the following provisions: (1) A dollar amount of the AAA's obligation under the agreement. (2) A requirement for the provider to provide evidence to the AAA to verify its costs before the AAA pays the provider. (3) The AAA monitors the agreement to ensure that provider expenses do not exceed the limits established in the agreement. (E) Retroactive: The AAA may pay a provider for services only if there is a valid agreement is in place before the provider begins to provide the services. No agreement is valid unless, and until, it is signed by authorized representatives from both the AAA and the provider. (F) Ineligible providers: The AAA is subject to 2 C.F.R. Part 180, as supplemented by 2 C.F.R. Part 376, which does not allow the AAA to enter into an agreement with any provider that the SAM database lists as excluded or disqualified from agreements involving federal funds. As used in this paragraph, "SAM database" means the general service administration's "System for Award Management," which is available to the general public for free on www.sam.gov. (G) Not earning funds: An AAA may make a portion of the funds awarded to a provider available for use by one or more other existing providers by using a competitive procurement process listed under 2 C.F.R. 200.320 if the AAA stated in the agreement that it may redistribute funds if a provider is not earning the funds that the provider was awarded in a timely manner, and if the AAA determines that the provider is not earning the funds that it was awarded in a timely manner. A provider may appeal an AAA's decision to redistribute funds under rule 173-3-09 of the Administrative Code. Last updated October 1, 2025 at 8:05 AM Supplemental Information |
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Rule 173-3-05 | Older Americans Act: procurement standards.
(A) General procurement standards: (1) When an AAA procures services paid, in whole or in part, with Older Americans Act funds, the AAA is subject to the requirements in 2 C.F.R. 200.318 to 200.3270 and 2 C.F.R. Part 300. (2) 2 C.F.R. 200.1 establishes the micro-purchase threshold. 2 C.F.R. 200.320 does not allow an AAA to use micro-purchase procurement for AAA-provider agreements (agreements) worth more than the micro-purchase threshold, unless the threshold is increased according to 2 C.F.R. 200.320(a)(1)(iv) or (a)(1)(v).. (3) 2 C.F.R. 200.1 establishes the simplified acquisition threshold. 2 C.F.R. 200.320 does not allow an AAA to use small-purchase procurement for agreements worth more than the simplified acquisition threshold. (B) Authorization for non-competitive procurement: An AAA may request authorization from AGE to use a non-competitive procurement process by complying with paragraph (A) of this rule and providing a written or electronic request to AGE that meets all of the following conditions: (1) The AAA makes its request to AGE no fewer than thirty days before the AAA needs a decision from AGE. (2) The AAA's request does not consider a public exigency or emergency to be a basis for non-competitive procurement if the AAA created the exigency or emergency. (3) The AAA's request provides AGE with evidence to verify that the circumstances in 2 C.F.R. 200.320(c) exist. (4) If the AAA wants to procure services from a single source, the AAA's request verifies that the circumstances in 2 C.F.R. 200.320(c)(2) exist by including the names of all known providers of the services located in, or willing to do business in, the planning and service area and includes emails or letters from each of those providers to document their inability to provide the services the AAA wants to procure. If the providers are unwilling to provide emails or letters to the AAA, the AAA's request includes records of the AAA's efforts to obtain information from the providers. (C) Additional procurement standards for renewable and multi-year AAA-provider agreements: (1) RFPs: (a) An AAA may offer a provider a renewable or multi-year AAA-provider agreement (agreement) only if the RFP for the renewable or multi-year agreement clearly states all of the following: (i) Whether the agreement would be renewable after the first term or for a multi-year term. (ii) One of the following: (a) The methodology by which the AAA would determine the amount, if any, of a rate increase upon renewal or during the multi-year term. (b) A statement that the agreement would not include an opportunity for rate increases. (b) An AAA may offer a provider a renewable agreement only if the RFP for the renewable agreement clearly states the following: (i) The AAA retains the right to decline to renew a renewable agreement. (ii) The circumstances under which the AAA may terminate a renewed agreement. (c) An AAA may offer a provider a multi-year agreement only if the RFP for the multi-year agreement clearly states that the AAA may terminate a multi-year agreement, rather than fulfill all years of the multi-year term, under any one or more of the following circumstances: (i) The provider does not demonstrate satisfactory performance. (ii) The AAA does not have funds to pay for the services for a subsequent year. (iii) A situation arises that was unforeseen at the time the AAA and the provider entered into the agreement. Examples of unforeseen situations are changes in market conditions or changes in the law regulating the services the agreement covers. (2) Agreements: (a) Every agreement for a renewable agreement or agreement with a multi-year term shall clearly state the following: (i) Whether the agreement is renewable after the first term or for a multi-year term. (ii) One of the following: (a) The methodology by which the AAA determines the amount, if any, of a rate increase upon renewal or during the multi-year term. (b) A statement that the agreement does not include an opportunity for rate increases. (b) Every agreement for a renewable agreement shall clearly state the following: (i) The AAA retains the right to decline to renew the agreement. (ii) The circumstances under which the AAA may terminate a renewed agreement. (c) Every agreement with a multi-year term shall clearly state that the AAA may terminate the multi-year agreement, rather than fulfill all years of the multi-year term, under any one or more of the following circumstances: (i) The provider does not demonstrate satisfactory performance. (ii) The AAA does not have funds to pay for the services for a subsequent year. (iii) A situation arises that was unforeseen at the time the AAA and the provider entered into the agreement. Examples of unforeseen situations are changes in market conditions or changes in the law regulating the services that the agreement covers. (3) Effective periods: No renewable or multi-year agreement (whether in its initial term or a renewed term) may remain in effect after the last day that the AAA's approved area plan is in effect unless the AAA makes a written or electronic request for authorization from AGE to extend the effective period no fewer than thirty days before the end of the effective period of the AAA's area plan and if AGE grants the requested extension to the AAA. Last updated October 1, 2025 at 8:05 AM Supplemental Information |
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Rule 173-3-06 | Older Americans Act: requirements to include in every AAA-provider agreement.
(A) Federal requirements for every AAA-provider agreement (agreement) for services paid, in whole or in part, with Older Americans Act funds: (1) The Older Americans Act. (2) Subparts C and D of 45 C.F.R. Part 1321. (3) 45 C.F.R. 75.327 to 75.335, including Appendix II to 45 C.F.R. Part 75. (4) Any additional federal law, rule, or executive order with jurisdiction over the agreement or any service procured through the agreement. (B) State requirements for every agreement for services paid, in whole or in part, with Older Americans Act funds: (1) Program and funding identification: (a) The agreement shall identify the names of the federal and state programs that are sources for the Older Americans Act funding being used to pay for the services procured through the agreement. (b) The agreement shall contain the following statement: "This agreement is for the provision of services paid with federal funds that the United States Department of Health and Human Services appropriated to the Ohio Department of Aging (ODA). ODA, in turn, allocated the federal funds to the area agency on aging. The agreement is subject to federal and state laws, rules,, and executive orders with jurisdiction over the agreement or any service procured through the agreement." (2) Additional state laws: (a) The agreement is subject to any rule in this chapter or Chapter 173-4 of the Administrative Code regulating agreements in general or the provision of any service being procured through the agreement. (b) The agreement is subject to any additional state law , rule, or executive order with jurisdiction over agreements in general or the provision of any service procured through the agreement. (3) Safety: (a) Disasters: The agreement shall require the provider to cooperate with the AAA and ODA to assess disaster impact upon consumers and to coordinate with public and private resources in the field of aging to assist consumers whenever the president of the United States declares that the provider's service area is a disaster area. (b) Significant changes: If the provider provides a service to a consumer who is enrolled in a case management service as part of care coordination, the agreement shall require the provider to notify the AAA of any significant change that may necessitate a reassessment the case-managed consumer's need for the service no later than one day after the provider is aware of a repeated refusal to receive the service; changes in the consumer's physical, mental, or emotional status; documented changes in the consumer's environmental conditions; or, other significant, documented changes to the consumer's health and safety. If "one day after" falls on a weekend or legal holiday, the deadline is extended to the day immediately following "one day after" that is not on a weekend or legal holiday. (c) APS: The agreement shall require the provider to immediately report any reasonable cause to believe a consumer is the victim of abuse, neglect, or exploitation to the local adult protective services program in accordance with section 5101.63 of the Revised Code. (d) Discontinuing the provision of services: If the provider provides a service to a consumer who is enrolled in a case management service with the AAA as part of care coordination, the agreement shall require the provider to notify the AAA and the case-managed consumer in writing of the anticipated last day the provider will provide the service to the case-managed consumer no later than thirty days before the anticipated last day, unless the reason for discontinuing the service is the hospitalization, institutionalization, or death of the consumer; serious risk to the health or safety of the provider; the consumer's decision to discontinue the service; or a similar reason why the provider is unable to notify the AAA and the case-managed consumer thirty days before the anticipated last day. The provider shall also notify the case-managed consumer on how to reach a long-term care ombudsman. If the thirtieth day falls on a weekend or legal holiday, the deadline is extended to the day immediately after the thirtieth day that is not on a weekend or a legal holiday. (4) Confidentiality: The agreement shall include any federal or state confidentiality requirements, including the following: (a) The provider shall not disclose information concerning a consumer unless the provider obtains and retains the consumer's written or electronic informed consent to disclose and the purpose for the disclosure is associated with the provider's provision of services to the consumer. (b) The provider shall not disclose information concerning a consumer for a purpose unassociated with the provider's provision of services even if the provider obtains and retains the consumer's written or electronic informed consent to do so. (c) The provider shall store each consumer's electronic records in a password-protected file and physical records in a designated, locked storage space. (5) Provider qualifications: In the agreement, the AAA shall include the following requirements: (a) When hiring an applicant for, or retaining an employee in, a paid direct-care position, the provider is subject to section 173.38 of the Revised Code and Chapter 173-9 of the Administrative Code, or if self-employed, section 173.381 of the Revised Code and Chapter 173-9 of the Administrative Code. (b) If a federal, state, or local government regulatory authority prohibits the provider from providing a service required by the agreement, the provider shall notify the AAA of the disciplinary action and the AAA shall, simultaneous to the date of the regulatory authority's disciplinary action, deem the provider to be ineligible to be paid with Older Americans Act funds for providing that service to consumers. (6) Subcontracting: The agreement shall require the provider to obtain authorization from the AAA before subcontracting any of its duties under the agreement to another provider. (7) Modification: (a) The agreement shall describe the grounds (and the process) for modifying the agreement. (b) The agreement shall state that if an amendment, repeal, or rescission of any law, rule, or regulation cited in the agreement would change the responsibilities of the AAA, the provider, or both the AAA and provider, then the AAA, the provider, or both the AAA and provider shall comply with the amendment, repeal, or rescission of the law, rule, or regulation even if the agreement is not updated before the amendment, repeal, or rescission takes effect. (c) Every new agreement shall require the provider to sign up for email updates on ODA's rules on https://aging.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/aging/see-news-and-events/subscribe/subscribe. (8) Renewable and multi-year agreements: If the agreement is renewable or covers a multi-year term, the agreement is subject to the requirements for renewable or multi-year agreements under rule 173-3-05 of the Administrative Code. (9) Records: The agreement shall include the following permissions and requirements: (a) Permission to use an electronic system to collect or retain records. (b) A requirement to retain any record relating to services provided, including activity plans (if required), assessments (if required), permits (if required), evaluations (if required), and mandatory reporting items to verify a unit of service, until all of the following periods of time have passed: (i) Three years after the date the provider receives payment for the services. (ii) The date on which ODA, the AAA, or a duly-authorized law enforcement official concludes monitoring the records and any findings are finally settled. (iii) The date on which the auditor of the state of Ohio, the inspector general, or a duly-authorized law enforcement official concludes an audit of the records and any findings are finally settled. (c) A requirement to retain all records regarding an employee's background checks and qualifications, including records on initial qualifications, successful completion of orientation and subsequent training (if required), and performance reviews (if required) until all of the following periods of time have passed: (i) Three years after the date the provider no longer retains the employee. (ii) The date on which ODA, the AAA, or a duly-authorized law enforcement official concludes monitoring the records and any findings are finally settled. (iii) The date on which the auditor of the state of Ohio, the inspector general, or a duly-authorized law enforcement official concludes an audit of the records and any findings are finally settled. (d) A requirement to participate in good faith in the monitoring of the provider's provision of services. To participate in good faith includes assisting the AAA and ODA with the scheduling of monitoring and providing the AAA and ODA with access to its business site(s) during the provider's normal business hours, a place to work in its business site(s), and access to policies and records for each unit of service billed. (10) Payment: (a) The agreement shall describe how the AAA pays the provider, including the amount and payment method. (b) The agreement shall include the following requirements: (i) The requirements in rule 173-3-07 of the Administrative Code. (ii) The requirement to return any Older Americans Act funds payments for its services, if the provider's provision of the services did not comply with the laws, rules, or executive orders with jurisdiction over the provision of the service. (11) Administrative hearings: (a) The agreement shall state that the provider may appeal an action the AAA takes against the provider according to rule 173-3-09 of the Administrative Code and state the procedures by which the provider may appeal the adverse action. (b) If the AAA intends to redistribute unearned funds to other providers, the agreement shall state that it may redistribute funds if a provider is not, in a timely manner, earning the funds it was awarded and if the AAA determines the provider is not, in a timely manner earning the funds it was awarded in the agreement. (C) An AAA may add requirements to an agreement in addition to the requirements in paragraphs (A) and (B) of this rule if the additional requirements do not conflict with any federal laws, rules, or executive orders with jurisdiction over the agreement or state laws, rules, or executive orders with jurisdiction over the agreement. Last updated September 19, 2025 at 12:30 PM Supplemental Information |
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Rule 173-3-06.1 | Older Americans Act: adult day service.
(A) "Adult day service" ("ADS") means a regularly-scheduled service delivered at an adult day center (center) in a non-institutional, community-based setting. ADS includes recreational and educational programming to support a consumer's health and independence goals; at least one meal, but no more than two meals per day; and, sometimes, health status monitoring, skilled therapy services, and transportation to and from the center. Table 1 to this rule defines the three levels of ADS.
(B) Requirements for every AAA-provider agreement for ADS that is paid, in whole or in part, with Older Americans Act funds: (1) The AAA-provider agreement is subject to rule 173-3-06 of the Administrative Code. (2) Service requirements: (a) Transportation: The provider shall transport each consumer to and from the center by performing transportation that complies with rule 173-3-06.6 of the Administrative Code, unless the provider enters into a contract with another provider who complies with rule 173-3-06.6 of the Administrative Code, or unless the caregiver transports or designates another person or non-provider, other than the center provider, to transport the consumer to and from the center. (b) Case manager's assessment: If the consumer receives a case management service as part of care coordination: (i) The case manager shall assess each consumer's needs and preferences then specify which service level will be approved for each consumer; and, (ii) The provider shall retain records to show that it provides the service at the level that the case manager authorized. (c) Provider's initial assessment: (i) The provider shall assess the consumer before the end of the consumer's second day of attendance at the center. If the consumer is enrolled in care coordination, the provider may substitute a copy of the case manager's assessment of the consumer if the case manager assessed the consumer no more than thirty days before the consumer's first day of attendance at the center. (ii) The initial assessment shall include both of the following components: (a) Functional and cognitive profiles that identify the ADLs and IADLs that require attention or assistance of the provider's staff members. (b) Social profile including social activity patterns, major life events, community services, caregiver data, formal and informal support systems, and behavior patterns. (d) Health assessment: No later than thirty days after the consumer's initial attendance at the center or before the consumer receives the first ten units of service at the center, whichever comes first, the provider shall either obtain a health assessment of each consumer from a licensed healthcare professional whose scope of practice includes health assessments or require a staff member who is such a licensed healthcare professional to perform a health assessment of each consumer. The health assessment shall include the consumer's psychosocial profile and identify the consumer's risk factors, diet, and medications. If the licensed healthcare professional who performs the health assessment is not a staff member of the provider, the provider shall retain a record of the professional's name and phone number. (e) Activity plan: No later than thirty days after the consumer's initial attendance at the center or before the consumer receives the first ten units of service at the center, whichever comes first, the provider shall either obtain the services of a licensed healthcare professional whose scope of practice includes developing activity plans to draft an activity plan for each consumer or require a staff member who is such a licensed healthcare professional to draft an activity plan for each consumer. The plan shall do all of the following: (i) Identify the consumer's strengths, needs, problems or difficulties, and objectives. (ii) Describe the consumer's interests, preferences, and social rehabilitative needs. (iii) Describe the consumer's health needs. (iv) Describe the consumer's specific goals, objectives, and planned interventions of ADS that meet the goals. (v) Describe the consumer's level of involvement in the drafting of the plan, and if the consumer has a caregiver, the caregiver's level of involvement in the drafting of the plan. (vi) Describe the consumer's ability to provide a unique identifier to verify receipt of service delivery. (f) Plan of treatment: Before administering medication or meals with a therapeutic diet, and before providing a nursing service, nutrition counseling, physical therapy, or speech therapy, the provider shall obtain a plan of treatment from a licensed healthcare professional whose scope of practice includes making plans of treatment. The provider shall obtain the plan of treatment at least every ninety days for each consumer that receives medication, a nursing service, nutrition counseling, physical therapy, or speech therapy. For diet orders that may be part of a plan of treatment, a new diet order is not required every ninety days. Instead, the provider is subject to the diet-order requirements under rule 173-4-06 of the Administrative Code. (g) Interdisciplinary care conference (conference): (i) Frequency: The provider shall conduct a conference for each consumer at least once every six months. (ii) Participants: The provider shall conduct the conference between the provider's staff members and invitees who choose to participate. At least seven days before the conference begins, the provider shall invite the following persons to participate in the conference and provide those persons with the date and time of the conference: (a) The consumer. (b) The consumer's case manager, if the consumer receives case management as part of care coordination. (c) Any licensed healthcare profession who does not work for the provider, but who provided the provider with a health assessment of the consumer or an activity plan for the consumer. (d) The consumer's caregiver, if the consumer has a caregiver. (iii) Revise activity plan: If the conference participants identify changes in the consumer's health needs, condition, preferences, or responses to the service, the provider shall obtain the services of a licensed healthcare professional whose scope of practice includes developing activity plans to revise the activity plan accordingly or require a staff member who is such a licensed healthcare professional to revise the activity plan accordingly. (h) Activities: The provider shall announce daily and monthly planned activities through two or more of the following media: (i) Posters in prominent locations throughout the center. (ii) An electronic display (e.g., a television) in a prominent location in the center. (iii) The center's website. (iv) A direct communication sent to consumers (and others), such as email, text, mail, or another medium. (i) Lunch and snacks: (i) The provider shall provide lunch and snacks to each consumer who is present during lunchtime or snacktime. (ii) The provision of lunch shall comply with paragraphs (A)(7) to (A)(12) of rule 173-4-05 of the Administrative Code and paragraph (E) of rule 173-4-05.1 of the Administrative Code. (3) Center requirements: A provider may qualify for an AAA-provider agreement to provide ADS if the provider's center meets the following specifications: (a) If the center is housed in a building with services or programs other than ADS, a separate, identifiable space and staff are available for ADS activities during all hours in which the provider provides ADS in the center. (b) The center complies with the "ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities" in appendix A to 28 C.F.R. Part 36. (c) The center has at least sixty square feet per individual that it serves, excluding hallways, offices, rest rooms, and storage areas. (d) The provider stores consumers' medications in a locked area that the provider maintains at a temperature that meets the storage requirements of the medications. (e) The provider stores toxic substances in an area that is inaccessible to consumers. (f) The center has at least one toilet for every ten individuals present that it serves and at least one wheelchair-accessible toilet. (g) If the center provides intensive ADS, the center has bathing facilities suitable to the needs of consumers who require intensive ADS. (4) Staffing levels: (a) The provider shall have at least two staff members present whenever more than one consumer is present, including one who is a paid PCA and one who is certified in CPR. (b) The provider shall maintain a staff-to-consumer ratio of at least one staff member to every six consumers at all times. (c) The provider shall have one RN, or LPN under the direction of an RN, available whenever a consumer who receives enhanced ADS or intensive ADS requires components of enhanced ADS or intensive ADS that fall within a nurse's scope of practice. (d) The provider shall employ an activity director to direct consumer activities. (5) Provider qualification: (a) Type of provider: Only agency providers qualify to provide ADS. (b) Staff qualifications: (i) Every person who is an RN, LPN under the direction of an RN, social worker, physical therapist, physical therapy assistant, speech therapist, dietitian, occupational therapist, occupational therapy assistant, or other licensed professional qualifies to practice in the adult day center only if the person has a current and valid license to practice in their profession. (ii) A person qualifies to be an activity director only if the person has at least one of the following: (a) A baccalaureate or associate degree in recreational therapy or a related degree. (b) At least two years of experience as an activity director, activity assistant or a related position. (c) Compliance with the qualifications under rule 3701-17-07 of the Administrative Code for directing resident activities in a nursing home. (d) A certification from the national certification council for activity professionals (NCCAP). (iii) A person qualifies to be an activity assistant only if the person has at least one of the following: (a) A high school diploma. (b) A high school equivalence diploma as defined in section 5107.40 of the Revised Code. (c) At least two years of employment in a supervised position to provide personal care, to provide activities, or to assist with activities. (iv) A person qualifies to be a PCA only if the person has at least one of the following: (a) A high school diploma. (b) A high school equivalence diploma as defined in section 5107.40 of the Revised Code. (c) At least two years of employment in a supervised position to provide personal care, to provide activities, or to assist with activities. (d) The successful completion of a vocational program in a health or human services field. (v) Each staff member who provides transportation to consumers shall comply with all requirements under rule 173-3-06.6 of the Administrative Code. (c) Staff training: (i) Orientation: The provider shall comply with the requirements for the orientation of PCAs in rule 173-3-06.5 of the Administrative Code. (ii) Task-based training: Before each new PCA provides an ADS, the provider shall provide task-based training. (iii) Continuing education: Each staff member shall successfully complete at least eight hours of in-service or continuing education on appropriate topics every twelve months. A staff member's successful completion of one to eight hours of continuing education or in-service training to maintain a professional license, certification, or registration used to provide ADS counts towards this eight-hour requirement if successfully completed during the same calendar year. (iv) Verification of compliance: The provider shall comply with paragraph (B)(3)(f) of rule 173-3-06.5 of the Administrative Code regarding records of each PCA's successful completion of any training and competency evaluation program, orientation, and in-service training. (d) Performance reviews: The provider shall complete a performance review of each staff member in relation to the staff member's job description. (6) Service verification: (a) The following are the mandatory reporting items for each episode of service that a provider retains to comply with the requirements under paragraph (B)(9) of rule 173-3-06 of the Administrative Code: (i) Consumer's name. (ii) Service date. (iii) Consumer's arrival and departure times. (iv) Consumer's mode of transportation. (v) Unique identifier of the consumer or the consumer's caregiver to attest to receiving the service. (b) During a state of emergency declared by the governor or a federal public health emergency, the provider may verify each episode of service provided without collecting the unique identifier of the consumer or the consumer's caregiver. (C) Units of service: (1) Attendance: Units of ADS are calculated as follows: (a) One-half unit is less than four hours of ADS per day. (b) One unit is four to eight hours of ADS per day. (c) A fifteen-minute unit is each fifteen-minute period of time over eight hours up to, and including, a maximum of twelve hours of ADS per day. (2) Transportation: A unit of ADS does not include transportation, as defined by rule 173-3-06.6 of the Administrative Code, even if the transportation is provided to transport the consumer to or from the center. Last updated September 19, 2025 at 12:30 PM Supplemental Information |
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Rule 173-3-06.2 | Older Americans Act: home maintenance and chores.
(A) "Home maintenance and chores" means a service providing critical cleaning, maintenance, or repair of elements in a consumer's home or surrounding property which are necessary to preserve the consumer's health and welfare. (1) "Home maintenance and chores" includes the assessment, materials, and labor involved in any of the following activities: (a) Heavy household cleaning, including washing walls and ceilings; washing the outside of windows, washing the inside of difficult-to-reach windows; removing, cleaning, and re-hanging curtains or drapery; and, shampooing carpets or furniture. (b) Disposing garbage or recyclable materials. (c) Seasonal outdoor maintenance, including cleaning gutters and downspouts; removing leaves, snow, or ice; trimming shrubs; cutting grass; or installing existing storm windows. (d) Inspecting HVAC equipment, water heater, or water pump. (e) Repairing damaged, malfunctioning, or unsafe HVAC equipment, plumbing, electrical systems, roofing, stairs, or floors. (f) Household maintenance, including replacing light bulbs, unclogging a drain, lighting a pilot light, replacing an electrical fuse, replacing broken window panes, repairing/replacing damaged window or door screens, or changing a furnace filter. (g) Pest control. (2) "Home maintenance and chores" does not include any of the following activities: (a) An activity that another person (e.g., a landlord) has a legal or contractual responsibility to provide. (b) An activity that is available through third-party insurers, community supports, Ohio medicaid state plan, or a medicaid waiver program. (B) Requirements for every AAA-provider agreement for home maintenance and chores paid, in whole or in part, with Older Americans Act funds: (1) The AAA-provider agreement is subject to the requirements in rule 173-3-06 of the Administrative Code. (2) Licensure or accreditation: If an activity needs a license or credential (e.g., pest control), only a provider who possesses the current, valid license or credential qualifies to provide the activity. (3) Consent agreement: The provider shall not provide any of the activities described in paragraphs (A)(1)(e) to (A)(1)(g) of this rule without first obtaining a written or electronic consent agreement from the homeowner, which may be the consumer, the consumer's family, or a landlord. (4) Health and safety: If the provider anticipates health or safety risks to the consumer during an activity, the provider shall inform the consumer and the AAA of the risks and provide the activity on dates and times that minimize those risks. The provider is subject to any and all applicable local codes or ordinances in the provision of each activity. (5) Service verification: The following are the mandatory reporting items for each activity that a provider retains to comply with the requirements under paragraph (B)(9) of rule 173-3-06 of the Administrative Code: (a) Consumer's name. (b) Date that the activity was provided. (c) Description of the activity provided. (d) Name of each employee providing the activity. (e) The unique identifier of the provider to attest to providing the activity. (f) The unique identifier of the consumer or the consumer's caregiver to attest to receiving the activity. During a state of emergency declared by the governor or a federal public health emergency, the provider may verify the activity provided without collecting the unique identifier of the consumer or the consumer's caregiver. (C) Units: One unit of home maintenance and chores is one activity reported in hours. Providers may report partial hours to two decimal places (e.g., "0.25 hours"). Material costs are part of the hourly rate. (For example, if a provider normally charges thirty dollars per hour and a three-hour service involves thirty dollars in materials, the provider would bill for three units at forty dollars per unit.) Last updated September 19, 2025 at 12:30 PM Supplemental Information |
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Rule 173-3-06.3 | Older Americans Act: home modification.
(A) "Home modification" means a service modifying elements of the interior or exterior of a consumer's home to increase accessibility and enable the consumer to function with greater independence in the home. (1) "Home modification" includes the assessment, materials, and labor involved in any of the following: (a) Installing grab bars or other devices to improve the consumer's ability to perform ADLs. (b) Modifying the interior or exterior of the consumer's home to improve the consumer's health and safety. (c) Installing a wheelchair ramp to a doorway or another modification to improve the consumer's accessibility. (d) Repairing or replacing a home modification previously paid, in whole or in part, with Older Americans Act funds, if the previous modification cannot be repaired or replaced through another resource. (2) "Home modification" does not include a service with any of the following characteristics: (a) Another person (e.g., a landlord) has a legal or contractual responsibility to provide the service. (b) The service is available through Ohio medicaid state plan, a medicaid waiver program, or another government program, pursuant to 45 C.F.R. 1321.3. (c) The service is available through third-party insurers or a community support program. (d) The service would add square footage to the home. (e) The service would provide general utility and not direct medical or remedial benefit to the consumer. (f) The service would repair or replace a home modification previously paid, in whole or in part, with Older Americans Act funds, that is damaged as a result of apparent abuse, misuse, or negligence. (B) Requirements for every AAA-provider agreement for home modification paid, in whole or in part, with Older Americans Act funds: (1) General requirements: The AAA-provider agreement is subject to requirements in rule 173-3-06 of the Administrative Code. (2) Licensure or accreditation: If a modification requires a license or credential (e.g., an electrician, a HVAC specialist, a plumber), only a provider who possesses the current, valid license or credential qualifies to modify the home. (3) Authorization: Before modifying a home, the provider shall do the following: (a) Provide a written or electronic estimate to the AAA on the cost of the modification. (b) Obtain the AAA's written or electronic authorization to begin the modification. (4) Consent agreement: A provider shall not modify a home without first obtaining a written or electronic consent agreement from the homeowner (which may be the consumer, the consumer's family, or a landlord) authorizing the modification and acknowledging that the homeowner understands that the home will remain in the modified state until after the consumer leaves the home. (5) Permits: Before modifying a home, the provider shall obtain any permit and pre-modification inspections required by federal, state, and local laws. (6) Health and safety: If the provider anticipates health or safety risks to the consumer while modifying the home, the provider shall inform the consumer and the AAA of the risks and modify the home on dates and times that minimize those risks. (7) Warranty: The provider shall provide a warranty to the AAA covering the workmanship and materials involved in the modification. (8) Inspection: The provider is subject to any necessary inspection, inspection report, or permit required by federal, state, and local laws or a homeowners' association to verify that the modification was properly completed. (9) Service verification: The following are the mandatory reporting items for this service that a provider retains to comply with the requirements under paragraph (B)(9) of rule 173-3-06 of the Administrative Code: (a) Consumer's name. (b) One of the following dates: (i) The date the provider completes the modification if the provider only makes one modification to the home. (ii) The date the provider completes the last modification if the provider makes multiple, related modifications to the home. (c) Description of the modification(s). (d) Name of each employee modifying the home. (e) The unique identifier of the provider to attest to the completion of the modification(s). (f) The unique identifier of the consumer or the consumer's caregiver to attest to the completion of the modification(s). During a state of emergency declared by the governor or a federal public health emergency, the provider may verify the completion of the modification(s) without collecting the unique identifier of the consumer or the consumer's caregiver. (C) Units and rates: (1) A unit of home modification is one completed modification. (2) The rate is negotiable and subject to the approval of the AAA before the home is modified. It includes assessment, materials, and labor. Last updated September 19, 2025 at 12:30 PM Supplemental Information |
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Rule 173-3-06.4 | Older Americans Act: homemaker service.
(A) Definitions for this rule: (1) "Homemaker service" (homemaker) means a case-managed service providing routine activities to help a consumer to achieve and maintain a clean, safe, and healthy living environment. (a) "Homemaker service" includes the following activities: (i) Routine meal-related activities: planning a meal, preparing a meal, and planning a grocery purchase. (ii) Routine household activities: dusting furniture, sweeping, vacuuming, mopping floors, removing trash, and washing the inside of windows that are reachable from the floor, kitchen care (washing dishes, appliances, and counters), bedroom and bathroom care (changing bed linens and emptying and cleaning bedside commodes), and laundry care (washing, drying, folding, ironing, and putting the laundry away in the consumer's home and washing and drying at a laundromat if the consumer does not have a working washer and dryer). (iii) Routine transportation activities: providing an errand outside of the presence of the consumer (e.g., picking up a prescription or groceries), or escort, but not transportation under rule 173-3-06.6 of the Administrative Code. (iv) The activities described in paragraphs (A)(1)(a)(i) to (A)(1)(a)(iii) of this rule when they assist the consumer as respite to the consumer's caregiver or are essential to the health and safety of the consumer as respite to the consumer's caregiver. (b) "Homemaker service" does not include the following activities: (i) Activities provided outside of the home with the exceptions of the laundry activities in paragraph (A)(1)(a)(ii) of this rule and the routine transportation activities in paragraph (A)(1)(a)(iii) of this rule. (ii) Activities within the scope of home maintenance and chores. (iii) Activities available through third-party insurers, community supports, Ohio medicaid state plan, or a medicaid waiver program. (iv) Activities to administer or set-up medications. (2) "Aide" means the person who provides homemaker activities. (B) Requirements for every AAA-provider agreement with agency providers for homemaker activities paid, in whole or in part, with Older Americans Act funds: (1) The AAA-provider agreement is subject to rule 173-3-06 of the Administrative Code. (2) Licensure: The provider is subject to the requirement under Chapter 3740. of the Revised Code and Chapter 3701-60 of the Administrative Code for the provider to hold a current, valid license to provide skilled home health services or nonmedical home health services. (3) Availability: The provider shall maintain the following: (a) Adequate staffing levels to provide homemaker activities at least five days per week. (b) A back-up plan for providing homemaker activities when the provider has no aide available. (c) The availability of an aide supervisor during all hours when aides are scheduled to work. (4) Aides: (a) General standard: No aide may provide an activity under paragraph (A)(1)(a) of this rule unless the aide successfully completes training and competency evaluation on that activity (b) Initial qualifications: The provider may allow a person to serve as an aide only if the person meets at least one of the following qualifications and the provider meets the verification requirements under paragraph (B)(4)(f) of this rule: (i) The person meets at least one of the qualifications to be a PCA under paragraph (B)(4)(a) of rule 173-3-06.5 of the Administrative Code. (ii) The person successfully completed training and competency evaluation on each activity listed under paragraph (A)(1)(a) of this rule that the person would provide as an aide. For example, a person who would provide only laundry activities as an aide would qualify to be an aide by successfully completing training and competency evaluation on laundry activities. (c) Orientation: Before allowing aides or other employees to have direct, face-to-face contact with consumers, the provider shall provide the aides or other employees with orientation that, at a minimum, addresses the following topics: (i) The provider's expectations of employees. (ii) The provider's ethical standards. (iii) An overview of the provider's personnel policies. (iv) The organization and lines of communication of the provider's agency. (v) Person-centered care. (vi) Incident reporting. (vii) Emergency procedures. (viii) Standard precautions for infection control, including hand washing and the disposal of bodily waste. (d) In-service training: The provider shall retain records to show that each aide successfully completes six hours of ODA-acceptable in-service training every twelve months. Agency- and program-specific orientation do not count toward the six hours. If the aide is also a PCA according to rule 173-3-06.5 of the Administrative Code, the provider may consider six hours of successfully-completed ODA-acceptable in-service training as a PCA to count for the six hours required as an aide by this paragraph. (e) Acceptable training, orientation, and competency evaluation: (i) An organization other than the provider may provide the orientation and training required in paragraphs (B)(4)(c) and (B)(4)(d) of this rule. Any training successfully completed through https://mylearning.dodd.ohio.gov/ or https://collinslearning.com/home-health-care/ is approved. (ii) The portion of training that is not competency evaluation may occur online. (iii) The portion of competency evaluation that involves return demonstration qualifies as competency evaluation under paragraph (B)(4)(b) of this rule only if it is conducted in person. (f) Verification of compliance with aide qualifications and requirements: (i) If a person meets the initial qualifications to be an aide under paragraph (B)(4)(b) of this rule by meeting the qualifications to be a PCA under paragraph (B)(4)(a) of rule 173-3-06.5 of the Administrative Code, then the provider shall comply with the verification requirements under paragraph (B)(4)(f) of rule 173-3-06.5 of the Administrative Code. (ii) If a person meets the initial qualifications to be an aide under paragraph (B)(4)(b) of this rule by completing the training and competency evaluation program under paragraph (B)(4)(b)(ii) of this rule, then the provider shall either retain copies of certificates of completion earned by each aide after the aide meets qualifications/requirements under paragraph (B)(4) of this rule for successfully completing any training and competency evaluation program, orientation, and in-service training under paragraph (B)(4) of this rule or record the following information for each aide, and retain it, if it does not appear on the aide's certificate of completion (or if the aide did not receive a certificate of completion): name of the school or training organization, name of the course, training dates, and training hours successfully completed. (5) Aide supervisors, aide trainers, and aide testers: (a) Qualifications: The provider may allow a person to serve as an aide supervisor, an aide trainer, or an aide tester only if the person meets one or more of the following qualifications: (i) The person is an RN or LPN. (ii) The person is a licensed independent social worker (LISW) or licensed social worker (LSW). (iii) The person successfully completed a baccalaureate or associate degree in a health and human services field. (iv) The person completed at least two years of work as an aide, as defined by this rule. (b) Aide supervisor visits: The provider's aide supervisor shall do all of the following: (i) Visit each consumer in person at the consumer's home to develop a written or electronic activity plan with the consumer either before allowing an aide to provide an episode of service to the consumer or during the aide's initial episode of service to the consumer. During a state of emergency declared by the governor or a federal public health emergency, the aide supervisor may conduct the visit by telephone, video conference, or in person at the consumer's home. (ii) Visit each consumer in person at the consumer's home at least once every ninety-three days after the aide's initial episode of service with the consumer to evaluate compliance with the activity plan, the consumer's satisfaction, and the aide's performance. The aide supervisor may conduct each visit with or without the presence of the aide being evaluated. During a state of emergency declared by the governor or a federal public health emergency, the aide supervisor may conduct the visit by telephone, video conference, or in person at the consumer's home. (iii) Retain a record of the initial visit and each subsequent visit that includes either of the following: (a) For an in-person visit, the date of the visit, an indication that the visit occurred in person at the consumer's home, the supervisor's name, the supervisor's unique identifier, the consumer's name, and a unique identifier of the consumer or the consumer's caregiver. During a state of emergency declared by the governor or a federal public health emergency, the provider may verify that the supervisor provided the initial or subsequent visit without collecting a unique identifier of the consumer or the consumer's caregiver. (b) For a visit by telephone or video conference, the date of the visit, an indication of whether that the visit was provided by telephone or video conference, the supervisor's name, the consumer's name, and evidence that a visit occurred by telephone or video conference (e.g., a record automatically generated by telehealth software, a record showing that the supervisor's phone called the consumer's phone, or clinical notes from the supervisor). (6) Employee policies: (a) The provider shall develop, implement, comply with, and maintain written or electronic policies on all the following topics: (i) Job descriptions. (ii) Qualifications to provide homemaker activities. (iii) Incident reporting. (iv) Obtaining the consumer's written or electronic permission before releasing information concerning the consumer to anyone. (v) The required content, handling, storage, and retention of consumer records. (vi) The provider's ethical standards. (b) The provider shall make its policies available to all employees and to ODA or the AAA upon request. (7) Service verification: The following are the mandatory reporting items for each episode of service that a provider retains to comply with the requirements under paragraph (B)(9) of rule 173-3-06 of the Administrative Code: (a) Consumer's name. (b) Service date. (c) Arrival time. (d) Departure time. (e) Service description. (f) Service units. (g) Name of each aide in contact with the consumer. (h) The unique identifier of each aide in contact with the consumer to attest to providing the service. (i) The unique identifier of the consumer or the consumer's caregiver to attest to receiving the service. During a state of emergency declared by the governor or a federal public health emergency, the provider may verify each episode of service provided without collecting the unique identifier of the consumer or the consumer's caregiver. (C) The requirements for every AAA-provider agreement for homemaker paid, in whole or in part, with Older Americans Act funds with participant-directed providers are the same as for agency providers, with the following differences: (1) Availability: Paragraph (B)(3)(a) of this rule does not apply. (2) Licensure: Paragraph (B)(2) of this rule applies only if the provider meets the definition of "nonagency provider" in rule 3701-60-01 of the Administrative Code. (3) Initial qualifications, in-service training, and verification: Paragraphs (B)(4)(a), (B)(4)(b), (B)(4)(d), and (B)(4)(f) of this rule apply as if "provider" is the AAA and "aide" is either the self-employed or participant-directed provider. (4) Orientation: Paragraph (B)(4)(c) of this rule does not apply. (5) Supervision: Paragraph (B)(5) of this rule does not apply. (6) Employee policies: Paragraphs (B)(6)(a)(iii) to (B)(6)(a)(vi) of this rule apply, but paragraphs (B)(6)(a)(i) to (B)(6)(a)(ii) do not apply. (7) Service verification: Paragraph (B)(7) of this rule applies as if "aide" is either the self-employed or participant-directed provider. (D) Unit of service: A unit of homemaker is one hour of homemaker. Providers may report partial hours to two decimal places (e.g., "0.25 hours"). Last updated September 19, 2025 at 12:30 PM Supplemental Information |
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Rule 173-3-06.5 | Older Americans Act: personal care.
(A) Definition for this rule: "Personal care" means a case-managed service comprised of activities to help a consumer achieve optimal functioning with ADLs and IADLs. (1) "Personal care" includes the following activities: (a) Assisting the consumer with ADLs, IADLs, household management, personal affairs, and self-administration of medications. (b) Homemaker activities listed in rule 173-3-06.4 of the Administrative Code, if the activities are specified in the consumer's activities plan and are incidental to the activities provided, or are essential to the health and safety of the consumer, rather than the consumer's family. The homemaker activities include routine meal-related activities, routine household activities, and routine transportation activities. (c) The activities described in paragraphs (A)(1)(a) to (A)(1)(b) of this rule when they assist the consumer as respite to the consumer's caregiver or are essential to the health and safety of the consumer as respite to the consumer's caregiver. (2) "Personal care" does not include the following activities: (a) Activities provided outside of the home except for routine transportation activities listed in paragraph (A)(1)(b) of this rule. (b) Activities within the scope of home maintenance and chores. (c) Activities available through third-party insurers, community supports, Ohio medicaid state plan, or a medicaid waiver program. (d) Activities to administer or set-up medications. (B) Requirements for every AAA-provider agreement for personal care paid, in whole or in part, with Older Americans Act funds: (1) General requirements: The AAA-provider agreement is subject to rule 173-3-06 of the Administrative Code. (2) Licensure: The provider is subject to the requirement under Chapter 3740. of the Revised Code and Chapter 3701-60 of the Administrative Code for the provider to hold a current, valid license to provide skilled home health services or nonmedical home health services. (3) Availability: The provider shall maintain the following: (a) Adequate staffing levels to provide personal care at least five days per week. (b) A back-up plan for providing personal care when the provider has no PCA available. (c) The availability of a PCA supervisor during all hours when PCAs are scheduled to work. (4) PCAs: (a) Initial qualifications: The provider may allow a person to serve as a PCA only if the person meets at least one of the following qualifications and if the provider meets the verification requirements under paragraph (B)(4)(d) of this rule: (i) STNA: The person successfully completed a nurse aide training and competency evaluation program approved by Ohio department of health (ODH) under section 3721.31 of the Revised Code. (ii) Medicare: The person met the qualifications to be a medicare-certified home health aide according to one of the following sets of standards: (a) The standards in 42 C.F.R. 484.4 and 484.36, if the person met those standards on or before January 12, 2018. (b) The standards in 42 C.F.R. 484.80 and 484.115, if the person met those standards on or after January 13, 2018. (iii) Previous experience: The person has at least one year of supervised employment experience as a home health aide or nurse aide and has successfully completed competency evaluation covering the topics listed under paragraph (B)(4)(a)(v)(b) of this rule. (iv) Vocational programs: The person successfully completed the COALA home health training program or another vocational school program that included at least thirty hours of training and competency evaluation covering the topics listed under paragraph (B)(4)(a)(v)(b) of this rule. (v) Other programs: The person successfully completed a training and competency evaluation program with the following characteristics: (a) The training lasted at least thirty hours. (b) All the following subjects were included in the program's training and its competency evaluation: (i) Communications skills, including the ability to read, write, and make brief and accurate reports (oral, written, or electronic). (ii) Observation, reporting, and retaining records of a consumer's status and activities provided to the consumer. (iii) Reading and recording a consumer's temperature, pulse, and respiration. (iv) Basic elements of bodily functioning and changes in body function that should be reported to a PCA supervisor. (v) The homemaker activities listed in rule 173-3-06.4 of the Administrative Code. (vi) Recognition of emergencies, and knowledge of emergency procedures. (vii) Physical, emotional, and developmental needs of consumers, including the need for privacy and respect for consumers and their property. (viii) Techniques in personal hygiene and grooming that include bed, tub, shower, and partial bath techniques; shampoo in sink, tub, or bed; nail and skin care; oral hygiene; toileting and elimination; safe transfer and ambulation; normal range of motion and positioning; and adequate nutrition and fluid intake. (b) Orientation: Before allowing PCAs or other employees to meet consumers in person, the provider shall ensure that the PCAs or other employees successfully completed orientation that, at a minimum, addressed the following topics: (i) The provider's expectations of employees. (ii) Person-centered care. (iii) The provider's ethical standards. (iv) An overview of the provider's personnel policies. (v) The organization and lines of communication of the provider's agency. (vi) Incident reporting. (vii) Emergency procedures. (viii) Standard precautions for infection control, including hand washing and the disposal of bodily waste. (c) Additional training: The provider shall ensure that each PCA successfully completes additional training and competency evaluation if the PCA is expected to perform activities for which the PCA did not receive training or undergo competency evaluation under paragraph (B)(4)(a) of this rule. (d) In-service training: The provider shall retain records to show that each PCA successfully completes six hours of ODA-approved in-service training every twelve months. Agency- and program-specific orientation do not count toward the six hours. If the PCA is also a homemaker aide (aide) according to rule 173-3-06.4 of the Administrative Code, the provider may consider six hours of successfully-completed in-service training as an aide to count for the six hours required by this paragraph. (e) Acceptable training, orientation, and competency evaluation. (i) An organization other than the provider may provide the orientation and training required in paragraphs (B)(4)(b) to (B)(4)(d) of this rule. Any training successfully through https://mylearning.dodd.ohio.gov/ or https://collinslearnng.com/home-health-care/ is approved. (ii) The portion of training that is not competency evaluation may occur online. (iii) The portion of competency evaluation that involves return demonstration only qualifies as competency evaluation under paragraph (B)(4)(a) of this rule if it is conducted in person. (f) Verification of compliance with PCA qualifications and requirements: (i) The provider shall either retain copies of certificates of completion earned by each PCA after the PCA meets qualifications/requirements under paragraph (B)(4) of this rule for successfully completing any training and competency evaluation program, orientation, additional training, and in-service training under paragraph (B)(4) of this rule or record the following information for each PCA, and retain it, if it does not appear on the PCA's certificate of completion (or if the PCA did not receive a certificate of completion): name of the school or training organization, name of the course, training dates, and training hours successfully completed. (ii) If a person meets the initial qualifications to be a PCA under paragraph (B)(4)(a) of this rule by successfully completing a nurse aide training and competency evaluation program described in paragraph (B)(4)(a)(i) of this rule, the provider shall retain a copy of the search results from ODH's nurse aide registry (https://nurseaideregistry.odh.ohio.gov/Public/PublicNurseAideSearch) to verify the registry listed the person as "active," "in good standing," or "expired." (iii) If a person meets the initial qualifications to be a PCA under paragraph (B)(4)(a) of this rule only by the previous employment experience described in paragraph (B)(4)(a)(iii) of this rule, the provider shall also retain records to verify the person's name, the former employer's name and contact information, the former supervisor's name, the date the person began working for the former employer, and the date the person stopped working for the former employer. (5) PCA supervisors, PCA trainers, and PCA testers: (a) Qualifications: The provider may allow only an RN or LPN to be a PCA supervisor, PCA trainer, or PCA tester. (b) PCA supervisor visits: (i) Initial: The PCA supervisor shall visit each consumer in person at the consumer's home to define the expected activities of the PCA and develop a written or electronic activity plan with the consumer either before allowing a PCA to provide an episode of service to the consumer or during the PCA's initial episode of service to the consumer. During a state of emergency declared by the governor or a federal public health emergency, the PCA supervisor may conduct the visit by telephone, video conference, or in person at the consumer's home. (ii) Subsequent: The PCA supervisor shall visit the consumer in person at the consumer's home at least once every sixty days after the PCA's initial episode of service with the consumer to evaluate compliance with the activities plan, the consumer's satisfaction, and the PCA's performance. The PCA supervisor may conduct subsequent visits with or without the presence of the PCA being evaluated. During a state of emergency declared by the governor or a federal public health emergency, the PCA supervisor may conduct subsequent visits by telephone or video conference, unless an emergency requires visiting the consumer in person at the consumer's home. (iii) Verification: In the consumer's record, the PCA supervisor shall retain a record of the initial visit and each subsequent visit that includes either of the following: (a) For an in-person visit, the date of the visit, an indication that the visit occurred in person at the consumer's home, the PCA supervisor's name, the PCA supervisor's unique identifier, the consumer's name, and a unique identifier of the consumer or the consumer's caregiver. During a state of emergency declared by the governor or a federal public health emergency, the provider may verify that the PCA supervisor provided the initial or subsequent visit without collecting a unique identifier of the consumer or the consumer's caregiver. (b) For a visit by telephone or video conference, the date of the visit, an indication of whether the visit was provided by telephone or video conference, the PCA supervisor's name, the consumer's name, and evidence that a visit occurred by telephone or video conference (e.g., a record automatically generated by telehealth software, a record showing that the PCA supervisor's phone called the consumer's phone, or clinical notes from the PCA supervisor). (6) Provider's policies: (a) The provider shall develop, implement, comply with, and maintain written or electronic policies on all the following topics: (i) Job descriptions. (ii) Qualifications to provide personal care. (iii) Incident reporting. (iv) Obtaining the consumer's written or electronic permission before releasing information concerning the consumer to anyone. (v) The required content, handling, storage, and retention of consumer records. (vi) The provider's ethical standards. (vii) Assistance with self-administration of medication. (b) The provider shall make its policies available to all employees and provide to ODA or the AAA upon request. (7) Service verification: (a) The provider is subject to section 121.36 of the Revised Code. (b) The following are the mandatory reporting items for each episode of service that a provider retains to comply with the requirements under paragraph (B)(9) of rule 173-3-06 of the Administrative Code: (i) Consumer's name. (ii) Service date. (iii) PCA's arrival time. (iv) PCA's departure time. (v) Description of the activities provided. (vi) Service units. (vii) Name of each PCA in contact with the consumer. (viii) The unique identifier of each PCA in contact with the consumer to attest to providing the service. (ix) The unique identifier of the consumer or the consumer's caregiver to attest to receiving the service. (c) During a state of emergency declared by the governor or a federal public health emergency, the provider may verify each episode of service provided without collecting the unique identifier of the consumer or the consumer's caregiver. (C) Unit of service: A unit of personal care is one hour of personal care. Providers may report partial hours to two decimal places (e.g., "0.25 hours"). Last updated September 19, 2025 at 12:30 PM Supplemental Information |
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Rule 173-3-06.6 | Older Americans Act: transportation.
(A) Definitions for this rule: (1) "Transportation" means a service that transports a consumer from one place to another through the use of a provider's vehicle and driver, and which may, or may not, include providing the consumer with assistance to safely enter and exit the vehicle. "Transportation" does not include the following: (a) Trips otherwise available, or funded by, Ohio's medicaid program or another source. (b) Trips provided through a similar service in this chapter or Chapter 173-4 of the Administrative Code. (2) "Board of EMFTS" means the state board of emergency medical, fire, and transportation services created under section 4765.02 of the Revised Code. (3) "Bus" has the same meaning as in section 4513.50 of the Revised Code. (4) "CLIA-certified laboratory" means a laboratory that ODH lists as a "CLIA Lab" in active status on the "Long-Term Care, Non Long-Term Care, & CLIA Health Care Provider Search" (http://publicapps.odh.ohio.gov/eid/Provider_Search.aspx). (5) "First responder" has the same meaning as in division (A) of section 4765.01 of the Revised Code. (6) "EMT" means any of the emergency medical technicians defined in division (A), (B), or (C) of section 4765.01 of the Revised Code. (B) Requirements for every AAA-provider agreement for transportation paid, in whole or in part, with Older Americans Act funds: (1) General requirements: (a) The AAA-provider agreement is subject to rule 173-3-06 of the Administrative Code. (b) Availability: The provider shall possess a back-up plan that describes the process for transporting or notifying consumers when the driver or vehicle is unavailable. (c) Assisted transportation: The AAA-provider agreement shall list situations when drivers need to provide consumers with assistance to safely enter and exit vehicles, pick-up locations, and drop-off locations. (d) Two-way communication: Providers are subject to the requirement in division (A)(1) of section 4766.14 of the Revised Code to provide drivers with a means of two-way communication, using either ambulette vehicle radios or cellular telephones, while transporting consumers. (2) Vehicle requirements: (a) Maintenance: The provider shall maintain vehicles according to the manufacturer's maintenance schedule for each vehicle used to transport consumers. If the vehicle includes a wheelchair lift, the provider shall maintain the wheelchair lift according to the manufacturer's maintenance schedule for the wheelchair lift. (b) Inspections: The provider shall conduct the following inspections on each vehicle used to transport consumers: (i) An annual vehicle inspection on an ODA-approved form. The provider may use a vehicle for transporting consumers only if a mechanic who is certified by the national institute for automotive service excellence (i.e., "ASE-certified"), or another mechanic approved by the AAA, inspected the vehicle no more than twelve months before and answers all questions on the form in the affirmative. (ii) A daily inspection of any vehicle that transports consumers in a wheelchair. The provider may use a vehicle to transport consumers in a wheelchair only if, before providing the first trip of the day, the provider inspected the vehicle to ensure that permanent fasteners, safety harnesses or belts, and access ramp or hydraulic lift are working and only if the provider retains a record of this inspection. (c) Vehicles deemed to comply: (i) A vehicle possessing a current, valid ambulance or ambulette license is deemed to comply with paragraphs (B)(2)(a) and (B)(2)(b) of this rule by providing the AAA with evidence of the vehicle's current, valid ambulance or ambulette license. (ii) A bus displaying a current, valid safety-inspection decal issued by the state highway patrol under Chapter 4501-52 of the Administrative Code is deemed to comply with paragraph (B)(2)(b)(i) of this rule. Providers using a vehicle with a current, valid safety-inspection decal issued under section 4513.52 of the Revised Code may demonstrate compliance with paragraph (B)(2)(b)(i) of this rule by providing the AAA with evidence of the vehicle's current, valid decal. (3) Driver requirements: (a) Statutory requirements to hire: The provider may hire a person to be a driver only if the person meets all the requirements for drivers under divisions (A)(3) and (B) of section 4766.14 of the Revised Code, as amplified in paragraph (A)(8) of rule 4766-3-13 of the Administrative Code, subject to the following conditions: (i) The applicant's first-aid training and cardiopulmonary-resuscitation training came from a training organization approved by the board of EMFTS (https://ems.ohio.gov/medical-transportation-licensing/help/help). (ii) The applicant's drug test results came from a CLIA-certified laboratory and declared the applicant to be free of alcohol, amphetamines, cannabinoids (THC), cocaine, opiates, or phencyclidine (PCP). (iii) The provider complies with the background-check requirements in Chapter 173-9 of the Administrative Code, which exempts an applicant for a volunteer driver position and an applicant for a position solely involving transporting consumers while working for a county transit system, regional transit authority, or regional transit commission. (b) Additional requirements to hire: The provider may hire a person to be a driver only if the person meets all the following requirements: (i) The applicant has held a current, valid driver's license for at least two years. (ii) The applicant holds any driver's license endorsement necessary to operate the type of vehicle the applicant would drive. (iii) The applicant has the ability to understand written, electronic, and oral instructions. (iv) The applicant has the ability to provide transportation assistance. (v) The applicant has the ability to comply with the trip-verification requirements in paragraph (B)(4)(a) of this rule. (c) Passenger-assistance training: The provider may retain a driver only if the driver successfully completes a passenger-assistance training course approved by the board of EMFTS (https://ems.ohio.gov/medical-transportation-licensing/help/help) no later than six months after the provider hires the driver. (d) Professionals deemed to comply: Providers hiring an applicant who is one or more of the following professionals may demonstrate compliance with paragraphs (B)(3)(a), (B)(3)(b), and (B)(3)(c) of this rule by providing the AAA with evidence the applicant is such a professional: (i) An ambulette driver. (ii) An EMT or first responder or a candidate to be an EMT or first responder who passed the board of EMFTS' curriculum for an EMT or first responder, but has not yet obtained a current, valid certification for either profession. (iii) A driver for a county transit system, regional transit authority, or regional transit commission. (4) Trip verification: The following are the mandatory reporting items for each trip provided that a provider retains to comply with the requirements under paragraph (B)(9) of rule 173-3-06 of the Administrative Code: (a) Consumer's name. (b) Type of trip (transportation or assisted transportation). (c) Date of trip. (d) Pick-up location and time of pick-up. (e) Destination location and time of drop-off. (f) Driver's name. (g) The unique identifier of the consumer or the consumer's caregiver to attest to receiving the trip. During a state of emergency declared by the governor or a federal public health emergency, the provider may verify each trip provided without collecting the unique identifier of the consumer or the consumer's caregiver if the provider collects the unique identifier of the driver to attest to providing the trip. (C) Unit and rate: (1) A one-way trip is one unit of transportation. (2) The unit rate in an AAA-provider agreement reflects the provider's fully-allocated costs, including administrative and training costs. Last updated September 19, 2025 at 12:30 PM Supplemental Information
Authorized By:
121.07, 173.01, 173.02, 173.392; 42 U.S.C. 3025; 45 C.F.R. 1321.9
Amplifies: 173.392, 4766.14, 4766.15; 42 U.S.C. 3025, 3030d, 3032c, 3032e; 45 C.F.R. 1321.9, 1321.73 Five Year Review Date: 11/30/2029 Prior Effective Dates: 12/16/2005 (Emer.), 3/30/2006, 2/15/2009, 2/14/2010, 3/12/2011, 6/11/2020 (Emer.), 1/1/2023, 7/1/2023, 5/1/2024 |
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Rule 173-3-06.10 | Older Americans Act: legal assistance.
(A) "Legal assistance" means legal advice, counseling, or representation by an attorney to consumers with economic or social needs, and includes, to the extent feasible, counseling or other appropriate assistance by a paralegal or law student under the direct supervision of an attorney; and counseling or representation by a non-lawyer where permitted by law. (1) "Legal assistance" includes advice, counseling, or representation on any of the following topics: (a) Public benefits. (b) Advance directives and designating surrogate decision makers who will effectuate consumers' wishes if they become incapacitated. (c) Defense of guardianship. (d) Available housing options, including low-income housing programs that allow independence in homes and communities. (e) Foreclosure or eviction proceedings that jeopardize the ability to stay independent in homes and communities. (f) The full benefit of appropriate long-term care private financing options. (g) Long-term financial solvency and economic security. (h) Consumers' rights when transferring from long-term care facilities to home and community-based services. (i) Elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. (2) "Legal assistance" does not include any of the following activities or advice, counseling, or representation on any of the following activities: (a) Fee-generating cases, unless other adequate representation is unavailable. (b) Political activities. (c) Lobbying. (d) Public demonstration, picketing, boycott, strike, unless permitted by law in connection with employment. (e) Encouraging or coercing others to demonstrate, picket, boycott, or strike. (f) Criminal defense. (B) Requirements for every AAA-provider agreement for legal assistance paid, in whole or in part, with Older Americans Act funds: (1) The AAA-provider agreement is subject to rule 173-3-06 of the Administrative Code. (2) The provider is subject to the following standards for coordination: (a) The requirement under 42 U.S.C. 3027(a)(11) and 45 C.F.R. 1321.93(f)(2)(xi)(D) to coordinate with existing legal service corporation project grantees in the PSA to concentrate the use of funds provided on individuals with greatest need. Legal services corporation grantees in Ohio can be identified on https://www.lsc.gov/grants/our-grantees/ohio-state-profile. (b) The requirement under 42 U.S.C. 3027(a)(11) and 45 C.F.R. 1321.93(e)(2)(iv) to coordinate with the private bar over legal assistance that the private bar may provide on a pro bono or reduced-fee basis. (c) The requirement under 42 U.S.C. 3027(a)(11) and 3058j to coordinate with ODA's legal assistance developer. (d) The requirement under 42 U.S.C. 3058(h)(8), 45 C.F.R. 1321.93(d)(4), 1324.13(h)(1)(i), and 1324.15(g), and rule 173-14-18 of the Administrative Code to coordinate with ombudsman programs. (e) The requirement under section 5101.63 of the Revised Code for mandatory reporters of abuse, neglect, and exploitation. (f) The opportunity to coordinate with adult protective services according to 45 C.F.R. 1324.406. (g) The opportunity to coordinate with the Ohio state health insurance information program (3) The provider is subject to the priorities for providing legal assistance in 42 U.S.C. 3027(a)(11)(E) and 45 C.F.R. 1321.93(e)(2). (4) A person may qualify to provide legal assistance only if the person meets all the qualifications in 45 C.F.R. 1321.93 and is authorized to practice law in Ohio. (5) The legal assistance provider may ask about a consumer's financial circumstances only as a part of the process of providing legal advice, counseling, or representation, or to identify additional resources and benefits for which the consumer may be eligible. (6) No provider may use Older Americans Act funds to pay bar association dues or supreme court registration fees. (7) The provider and AAA are subject to the reporting requirements under 45 C.F.R. 1321.73(b). For the provider, this includes the requirement to collect and report de-identified, aggregated case-level data via the legal assistance reporting tool developed by ACL under 42 U.S.C. 3012(a)(23), as provided by the contracting AAA. For the AAA, this includes the requirement to collect data from contracted provider(s) and submit one comprehensive legal assistance reporting tool to ODA by December thirty-first of each year. (8) Service verification: The following are the mandatory reporting items for each episode of legal assistance that a provider retains to comply with the requirements under paragraph (B)(9) of rule 173-3-06 of the Administrative Code: (a) Service date. (b) Type of legal assistance provided (advice, counseling, or representation). (c) Units of legal assistance provided. (d) Name of professional providing the legal assistance. (C) Units: A unit of legal assistance is one hour of provision of legal assistance, which a provider reports in partial hours per day to two decimal places (e.g., "0.25 hours" or "1.50 hours"). Last updated November 1, 2025 at 12:42 AM Supplemental Information |
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Rule 173-3-06.12 | Older Americans Act: outreach and public information.
(A) Definitions for this rule: (1) "Outreach" means a provider-initiated one-on-one intervention with a potential consumer or caregiver, in the consumer's or caregiver's preferred location, which is typically in their home, that may or may not have access to supports to identify a potential need for services and benefits, or denial of rights, and encourage the use of existing services and benefits. (a) "Outreach" includes the following: (i) Providing information and education about assistance, resources, or other services to potential consumers or caregivers who would not otherwise have access. (ii) Initiating the identification of potential consumers or caregivers to inform them of existing services and benefits. (iii) Tailoring an outreach strategy to the intended audience's needs in relation to information and access to human services and community resources. (iv) Communication, training, and service for potential consumers that engage agencies. (b) "Outreach" does not include any of the following: (i) Contact with a consumer or caregiver who currently receives services or benefits. (ii) Contact with multiple potential consumers or caregivers through publications, publicity campaigns, or other mass media activities. (2) "Public information" means mass media or general communications campaigns that are broadly distributed with the intent to increase enrollment in available services. "Public information" includes an in-person interactive presentation to the public conducted at a fair booth/exhibit, conference, or other public event; and a radio, television, or website event. (B) Requirements for every AAA-provider agreement for outreach that is paid, in whole or in part, with Older Americans Act funds: (1) The AAA-provider agreement is subject to rule 173-3-06 of the Administrative Code. (2) The provider is responsible for doing all of the following: (a) Establishing a systematic method to identify potential consumers and caregivers in need of services. (b) Educating potential consumers and caregivers on the availability of needed services through various forms of media. (c) Referring potential consumers and caregivers to providers of information and assistance. (d) Improving and networking with other providers or organizations to establish or strengthen partnerships to create more outreach opportunities. (e) Conducting paragraphs (B)(2)(a) to (B)(2)(d) of this rule in a manner that satisfies the following requirements: (i) 42 U.S.C. 3026(a)(4)(B)(i) and 3026(a)(19), which require providing outreach with special emphasis on specific populations. (ii) 42 U.S.C. 3027(a)(15), which establishes additional requirements if a substantial number of the older individuals residing in the PSA are of limited English-speaking ability. (3) Reporting: The following are the mandatory reporting items for each episode of service that a provider retains to comply with the requirements under paragraph (B)(9) of rule 173-3-06 of the Administrative Code: (a) Dates of service. (b) Units of service. (c) Number of consumers or caregivers served. (C) Requirements for every AAA-provider agreement for public information that is paid, in whole or in part, with Older Americans Act funds: The requirements in paragraphs (B)(1), (B)(2)(b), (B)(2)(c), (B)(3)(a), and (B)(3)(b) of this rule. (D) Units: (1) A unit of outreach is one contact with a potential consumer, caregiver, another provider, or organization. (2) A unit of public information is one activity. Last updated September 19, 2025 at 12:30 PM Supplemental Information |
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Rule 173-3-06.13 | Older Americans Act: volunteer management.
(A) Definitions for this rule: (1) "Volunteer management" means coordination of the recruitment, screening, training, placement, and evaluation of volunteers to expand the provision of aging-related home and community-based services. (a) "Volunteer management" may include any of the following: (i) Ensuring that consumers have access to a full range of home and community-based services and civic-engagement programs through the management of existing volunteer opportunities and the development of new volunteer opportunities. (ii) Coordination with organizations that have experience in providing training, placement, and stipends for volunteers or participants in community-based settings. (iii) Collecting methods of success and best practices in recruiting volunteers, retaining volunteers, and resolving the rate of volunteer turnover. (b) "Volunteer management" does not include any of the following: (i) Paying a volunteer unless through an americorps senior program. (ii) Fundraising, unless the requirements of 45 C.F.R. 1321.9(c)(2)(ii)(D) are met. (2) "Volunteer" means a person who participates in a volunteer opportunity that supports consumers or family caregivers, or a person who is an older adult who participates in a volunteer opportunity, without compensation for their time and effort, unless the person participates through an americorps senior program. (3) "Volunteer opportunity" includes, but is not limited to, any of the following activities when a volunteer provides them: (a) Assistance at congregate dining locations and delivering meals to consumers. (b) Routine transportation activities, or escort, but not transportation under rule 173-3-06.6 of the Administrative Code. (c) Repair and weatherize the homes of low-income consumers with a disability. (d) Counsel in a variety of areas including health, nutrition, legal, and financial. (e) The senior medicare patrol program or another program through which volunteers empower and assist consumers to prevent, detect, and report health care fraud, errors, and abuse. (f) Mentoring younger generations. (g) Supporting families and caregivers. (h) Addressing social isolation. (i) Volunteer guardian program. (j) Assistance with household tasks, but not home maintenance and chores under rule 173-3-06.2 of the Administrative Code. (k) Ohio senior health insurance information program (OSHIIP) or other benefits information programs. (4) "Volunteer opportunity" does not include any of the following: (a) An ombudsman volunteer program. (b) Fundraising, unless the requirements of 45 C.F.R. 1321.9(c)(2)(ii)(D) are met. (B) Requirements for every AAA-provider agreement for volunteer management paid, in whole or in part, with Older Americans Act funds: (1) The AAA-provider agreement is subject to rule 173-3-06 of the Administrative Code. (2) Chapter 173-9 of Administrative Code does not apply to volunteers. (3) The provider is responsible for determining the number and kind of volunteers, volunteer opportunities, volunteer time required, and volunteer roles. (4) The provider is responsible for completing all of the following activities: (a) Recruiting and screening, including the following: (i) Receiving specific requests for volunteers. (ii) Advertising for volunteers. (iii) Screening applicant volunteers, including screening to assure that no volunteer has an unremedied conflict of interest when participating in a volunteer opportunity. (iv) Determining appropriate work assignments. (b) Training, including the following: (i) Determining training content for volunteers and staff, including program policies and procedures. (ii) Training volunteers initially and ongoing. (iii) Training staff in volunteer use. (c) Placing and supervising, including the following: (i) Developing policies and procedures for staff supervision of volunteers. (ii) Developing a job description for volunteer responsibilities and tasks. (iii) Placing volunteers in appropriate work assignments (d) Evaluating, including the following: (i) Evaluating volunteer performance in a volunteer opportunity. (ii) Evaluating staff performance with volunteers. (iii) Obtaining staff evaluations of volunteers. (iv) Obtaining volunteer self-evaluations. (v) Evaluating the volunteer opportunity. (5) Service verification: The following are the mandatory reporting items for each volunteer opportunity that a provider retains to comply with the requirements under paragraph (B)(9) of rule 173-3-06 of the Administrative Code: (a) Type of volunteer opportunity. (b) Date of volunteer opportunity. (c) Number of volunteers placed to serve in the volunteer opportunity. (d) Total volunteer service hours per volunteer opportunity. (C) Units: A unit of volunteer management is an hour managing volunteers who provide services to consumers or older adults who participate in a volunteer opportunity. Last updated September 19, 2025 at 12:30 PM Supplemental Information |
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Rule 173-3-06.14 | Older Americans Act: disease prevention and health promotion service.
(A) Definitions for this rule: (1) "Disease prevention and health promotion service" has the same meaning as in 42. U.S.C. 3002. (2) "Evidence-based" means that a disease prevention and health promotion service complies with 42 U.S.C. 3030m and 45 C.F.R. 1321.89. (3) "Non-evidence-based" means that a disease prevention and health promotion service does not comply with 42 U.S.C. 3030m and 45 C.F.R. 1321.89. (B) Requirements for every AAA-provider agreement (agreement) for a disease prevention and health promotion service paid, in whole or in part, with Older Americans Act funds: (1) The agreement is subject to rule 173-3-06 of the Administrative Code. (2) The agreement stipulates that Title III-D Older Americans Act funds may pay for only an evidence-based disease prevention and health promotion service. (3) The agreement stipulates that Title III-B and Title III-E Older Americans Act funds may pay for a non-evidence-based disease prevention and health promotion service. (4) The provider is responsible for maintaining any license, permission, or other agreement necessary to provide the type of service, brand of service, or copyrighted or proprietary materials described in the provider's bid for the service and in the AAA-provider agreement. (5) Service verification: The following is the mandatory reporting item for each episode of service that a provider retains to comply with the requirements under paragraph (B)(9) of rule 173-3-06 of the Administrative Code: service date. (C) Units: A unit of a health promotion and disease prevention service is one session. Last updated September 19, 2025 at 12:30 PM Supplemental Information |
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Rule 173-3-07 | Older Americans Act: consumer contributions.
(A) Introduction: All services paid, in whole or in part, with Older Americans Act funds are subject to voluntary contributions. All services paid, in whole or in part, with Older Americans Act funds are subject to cost sharing, except for services excluded by paragraph (C)(1) of this rule. All voluntary contributions and cost sharing for services paid, in whole or in part, with Older Americans Act funds are subject to the requirements contained in 42 U.S.C. 3030c-2. (B) Voluntary contributions: Each AAA is subject to the federal mandate under 42 U.S.C. 3030c-2 to consult with relevant service providers and older individuals in the AAA's PSA to determine the best method for accepting voluntary contributions. (1) A provider may do the following: (a) Solicit service recipients to contribute toward the cost of the services received and encourage any service recipient to contribute if the service recipient's self-declared income is at, or above, one hundred eighty-five per cent of the federal poverty guidelines, which the United States department of health and human services establishes annually according to 42 U.S.C. 9902 and publishes on https://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty-guidelines. (b) Develop a suggested contributions schedule for voluntary contributions based on the actual cost of services, but not use the schedule or any other means test to determine if a service recipient is eligible to receive a service. (2) A provider shall do the following: (a) Clearly inform each service recipient in written materials, in alternative formats, and in languages other than English in compliance with federal civil rights laws, that contributions are purely voluntary. 42 U.S.C. 3030c-2 does not allow means testing or denial of a service to a service recipient who does not contribute of the cost of the service. (b) Protect the privacy and confidentiality of each service recipient with respect to the service recipient's contribution or lack of contribution. (c) Safeguard and account for all voluntary contributions. (d) Use collected voluntary contributions to expand the services for which service recipients contributed, and supplement Older Americans Act funds for those services and to meet any other requirements for program income in 2 C.F.R. 200.307 and 45 C.F.R. 1321.9(c)(2)(xii). (e) Conduct voluntary contributions in a manner that does not cause a service recipient to feel intimidated or pressured to contribute. (C) Cost sharing: (1) All services paid, in whole or in part, with Older Americans Act funds are subject to cost sharing, except for the following services: (a) Information and assistance, outreach, benefits counseling, case management, disease preventionand health promotion, or volunteer management. (b) Education, training, or a support group provided through the national family caregiver support program. (c) Congregate and home-delivered meals. (d) Ombudsman, elder abuse prevention, legal assistance, or another consumer-protection service. (2) Each AAA shall implement and administer a cost-sharing policy that includes all of the following: (a) The following sliding-fee schedule, which determines the service recipient's suggested cost-share percentage of the actual (or partial) contracted cost of a unit of a service based upon the service recipient's individual income as a percentage of the federal poverty guideline. Under no circumstances may an AAA permit or obligate a service recipient to participate in cost sharing when the service recipient's income is below one hundred fifty per cent of the federal poverty guideline.
(b) A requirement to determine the service recipient's income solely by the service recipient's self-declaration of income with no requirement for verification, and no consideration or means testing of the service recipient's assets, savings, or other property. (c) A procedure for collecting cost-sharing payments from service recipients, including from service recipients receiving participant-directed services. (d) A prohibition against denying services paid, in whole or in part, by Older Americans Act funds due to the income of the service recipient or the service recipient's failure to make a cost sharing payment. (e) A requirement to widely distribute written materials to service recipients that describe the requirements for cost sharing, the services subject to cost sharing, the procedure for cost sharing, the sliding-fee schedule published in this rule, and a statement that a provider is prohibited from denying services paid, in whole or in part, by Older Americans Act funds due to the income of the service recipient or the service recipient's failure to make a cost sharing payment. (f) A requirement to provide a receipt to a service recipient or caregiver who makes a payment. (g) A procedure for safeguarding and accounting for all cost-sharing funds collected. (h) A requirement to retain records of all cost-sharing funds collected. (i) A requirement to keep the service recipient's declaration or non-declaration of income and cost-sharing payment history confidential. (j) A requirement to use the funds collected from cost sharing to expand the capacity to provide the service for which the funds were given, unless the funds are used to expand the pool of funds from which a coordinated service is paid and to meet any other requirements for program income in 2 C.F.R. 200.307 and 45 C.F.R. 1321.9(c)(2)(xii). (k) A requirement to conduct cost sharing in a manner that does not cause a service recipient to feel intimidated or pressured to contribute. (3) The AAA may request a waiver of the requirement in paragraph (C)(2) of this rule to implement and administer a cost-sharing policy. AGE shall approve the request if the AAA demonstrates to AGE, by a preponderance of the evidence, one of the following: (a) At least eighty per cent of the service recipients in the PSA have incomes below one hundred fifty per cent of the federal poverty guidelines. (b) Cost sharing would be an unreasonable administrative or financial burden on the AAA. (D) All program income: (1) "Program income" has the same meaning as in 2 C.F.R. 200.1. Under 45 C.F.R. 1321.9(c)(2)(xii), "program income" includes voluntary contributions and cost sharing. (2) Program income is subject to all of the following standards: (a) 45 C.F.R. 1321.9(c)(2)(xii), which establishes the following: (i) A limit on spending program income on only the service to which the income was originally collected. (a) For program income received through a congregate dining project or home-delivered meals project, this means using the program income to increase the number of meals provided or to increase the nutrition counseling, nutrition education, or nutrition health screening to consumers who receive meals through the project. (b) For program income received for a Title III-B service, this means using the program income to provide the same service to either of the following: (i) Service recipients on waiting lists. (ii) Service recipients in areas of the PSA in which the service has not been available or is underserved. (ii) The addition alternative in 2 C.F.R. 200.307(e)(2). (iii) A requirement to use program income during the grant period in which the income was originally collected. (b) Requirements to report program income to AGE as it is earned. (c) Requirements to report program income expenditures in AGE's designated reporting system. Last updated November 1, 2025 at 12:42 AM Supplemental Information |
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Rule 173-3-09 | Older Americans Act: administrative hearings for adversely-affected providers.
(A) Introduction: (1) A provider may request an administrative hearing ("hearing") to appeal any adverse action that an AAA has taken against the provider. (2) AAAs and ODA shall honor all written or electronic hearing requests subject to the conditions in this rule. (3) A hearing under this rule is not an adjudication hearing under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. (B) AAA-level hearings: (1) Process: Each AAA shall publish on its website or in a document that is readily accessible by providers its process for any provider to appeal an adverse action related to an AAA-provider agreement (agreement) paid, in whole or in part, with Older Americans Act funds. (2) Final AAA decision: An AAA that conducts an administrative hearing shall forward the provider's request for the hearing and the AAA's final decision on the matter to ODA no later than five days after the date the AAA renders its final decision. If the fifth day falls on a weekend or legal holiday, the deadline is extended to the day immediately following the fifth day that is not on a weekend or legal holiday. (C) ODA-level hearings: (1) AAA first: A provider may request an administrative hearing before ODA only if the provider fully complied with the process for appealing an adverse action by the AAA that committed the adverse action and if that AAA has rendered its final decision on the appeal. (2) Request a hearing: A provider may submit a written or electronic request to ODA if it does so no later than fifteen days after the date the AAA renders its final decision and if the request describes the adverse action the provider is appealing and why the provider believes the AAA's decision on the matter was inappropriate. If the fifteenth day falls on a weekend or legal holiday, the deadline is extended to the day immediately following the fifteenth day that is not on a weekend or legal holiday. (3) Scheduling a hearing: After ODA receives the request for an administrative hearing, ODA shall, in a timely manner, schedule a hearing and select a hearing officer to preside over the hearing. (4) Hearing process: (a) The hearing officer shall afford an adequate opportunity for both the provider and the AAA to present their positions and provide evidence, but may limit or terminate the discussion/testimony under any one or more of the following conditions: (i) The provider or the AAA is unruly or combative. (ii) The provider's or AAA's discussion/testimony is unnecessarily redundant. (iii) The provider and the AAA entered into a settlement that resolved the adverse action(s) that prompted the hearing. (iv) The provider withdraws its request for the hearing in writing or email. (b) The hearing officer shall make an audio recording of the hearing unless ODA pays for a court reporter to record the hearing. (c) The hearing officer shall review the testimony or evidence collected at the hearing, then transmit the testimony, evidence, and the hearing officer's recommendations to ODA regardless of whether the AAA's action was appropriate. (5) Final ODA decision: ODA shall render its final decision on the appeal no later than thirty days after the date of the hearing and shall issue the decision and the rationale for the decision to the provider and the AAA. If the thirtieth day falls on a weekend or legal holiday, the deadline is extended to the day immediately following the thirtieth day that is not on a weekend or legal holiday. (D) Hearings vs. court cases: (1) A provider may seek redress from a court without waiting for the final decision of an AAA-level hearing or ODA-level hearing. (2) If a provider files a lawsuit against the AAA or ODA, the AAA or ODA may terminate any in-progress hearing that the provider requested from the AAA or ODA. (E) As used in this rule, "adverse action" means an AAA's action concerning a particular provider to not award an agreement; to not renew a renewable agreement; to prematurely terminate an agreement; or to terminate a multi-year agreement for the agreement's second, third, or fourth year. Last updated January 3, 2023 at 8:37 AM Supplemental Information |
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Rule 173-3-11 | Older Americans Act: state plans on aging.
(A) AGE publishes Ohio's current state plan on aging on https://aging.ohio.gov/reports-and-data. (B) Each state plan on aging is subject to the standards for state-plan content in 42 U.S.C. 3025, 3027, and 3058d and 45 C.F.R. 1321.27 and 1324.15. (C) AGE obtains input on the development of the state plan according to 42 U.S.C. 3025, 3027, and 3058d and 45 C.F.R. 1321.29 and 1324.15. (D) Any person may learn the time and place of any public-comment period, public hearing, or other public meeting on the state plan on aging by any of the following methods: (1) View the notice on https://aging.ohio.gov/reports-and-data. (2) Subscribe to receive email notices of news and events for public meetings or rules on https://aging.ohio.gov/subscribe. (3) Call 1-800-266-4346 or 1-614-466-5500. Last updated November 1, 2025 at 12:42 AM Supplemental Information |