Rule 173-4-05.3 | Older Americans Act nutrition program: congregate dining projects based in restaurants or grocery stores.
The following are the requirements to include in every AAA-provider agreement for a congregate dining project based in restaurants or grocery stores paid, in whole or in part, with Older Americans Act funds:
(A) The AAA-provider agreement is subject to rules 173-3-06 and 173-4-05 of the Administrative Code.
(B) Eligibility verification: The provider shall use one of the following three methods to verify consumers' eligibility when complying with the eligibility-verification requirements in rule 173-4-03 of the Administrative Code:
(1) Identification card method (whether or not electronically verified): The provider that uses this method registers each consumer that it serves and issues the consumer an identification card. When the consumer visits the restaurant or grocery store, the consumer provides the identification card to the designated staff person at the restaurant or grocery store to receive a prepared meal. The provider may use an electronic verification system to validate the identification card.
(2) Voucher method (whether or not electronically verified): The provider that uses this method registers each consumer that it serves and issues the consumer a voucher. When the consumer visits the restaurant or grocery store, the consumer provides a voucher to the designated staff person at the restaurant or grocery store to receive a prepared meal. The provider may use an electronic verification system to validate the voucher.
(3) Handwritten verification method: Before providing a consumer the first meal, the provider that uses this method collects information required by the AAA and obtains a unique identifier from the consumer.
(C) Consumer contributions: The provider shall use one of the following two methods for soliciting consumer contributions when complying with the consumer-contribution requirements in rule 173-3-07 of the Administrative Code:
(1) The provider that uses the consumer identification method in paragraph (B)(1) or (B)(3) of this rule solicits the consumer to voluntarily contribute to the cost of the meals when the provider provides the meals.
(2) The provider that uses the method in paragraph (B)(2) of this rule solicits the consumer to voluntarily contribute to the cost of the meals when the provider provides the vouchers.
(D) Emergency closings: The provider shall distribute information to consumers on how to stock an emergency food shelf.
(E) Quality assurance: The provider shall elicit consumer's comments on dining environments, food appearance, type of food, food temperatures, and staff professionalism.
(F) Meal verification:
(1) The following are the mandatory reporting items for each meal 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) Date of meal provision.
(c) Unique identifier of the consumer or the consumer's caregiver to attest to receiving the meal.
(2) During a state of emergency declared by the governor or a federal public health emergency, the provider may verify each meal provided without collecting a unique identifier of the consumer or the consumer's caregiver.
Last updated November 8, 2023 at 8:20 AM
Supplemental Information
Amplifies: 173.39, 173.392; 42 U.S.C. 3025, 3030e, 3030g-21; 45 C.F.R. 1321.11, 1321.17, 1321.67
Five Year Review Date: 11/30/2027
Prior Effective Dates: 3/5/2009, 2/14/2010, 9/1/2016, 6/11/2020 (Emer.), 12/31/2020, 1/29/2022