Free senior care guidance for Cincinnati-area families. No cost to you, ever.
Call (937) 764-9687
Cincinnati Senior Advisor

Your State's In-Home Medicaid Waiver, Explained

PASSPORT is Ohio's primary in-home Medicaid waiver -- here is what it actually covers.

Get matched freeCall (937) 764-9687
Home›State Rules›Your State's In-Home Medicaid Waiver, Explained
Short answer

PASSPORT is Ohio's largest home- and community-based Medicaid waiver for older adults, paying for personal care, homemaker services, adult day care, respite, home modifications and structured family caregiving for seniors who need a nursing-facility level of care but want to remain at home.

What it covers

In-home and community-based services only -- it does not pay for assisted living room and board.

Eligibility

Eligibility is based on a functional assessment (a nursing-facility level of care determination) and Medicaid's non-MAGI aged/blind/disabled financial test. Confirm current income and asset limits directly with the Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio or Ohio Department of Medicaid before assuming eligibility either way.

Who administers it locally

The Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio administers PASSPORT for Hamilton, Butler, Warren and Clermont counties.

How families pay for care. Ohio runs PASSPORT (in-home only) and the Assisted Living Waiver (care services inside a licensed RCF, not room and board). Read the full explanation →

Questions families ask

Can I push back on a hospital discharge date?

Yes, and it is often less fixed than it initially sounds, particularly when no safe discharge plan exists yet. Ask the case manager directly what specifically needs to be in place before the date can move, and push on that.

What if none of the facilities a hospital referred my parent to have accepted?

Ask the case manager directly which facilities have actually said yes, not just which ones received an inquiry. A referral sent does not mean a bed accepted, and the accepted list is the only one that matters for a real discharge plan.

How do I know if my parent can no longer live alone safely?

Separate what is genuinely unsafe -- a stove left on, a missed week of medications, a fall nobody was told about -- from what is simply untidy or different from how you'd do things. Rule out reversible causes like a urinary tract infection or medication interaction before assuming a permanent decline.

What should I do in the weeks after my parent has a fall?

Treat the fall as a signal rather than an isolated accident -- it's one of the strongest predictors of another fall. Get the cause investigated (medication, vision, inner-ear issues), fix obvious environmental hazards, and watch for fear of falling causing your parent to move less, which itself increases future fall risk.

What should we do in the first month after a dementia diagnosis?

Slow down -- very little has to be decided immediately. Get the specific diagnosis (Alzheimer's, vascular, Lewy body and frontotemporal dementia all progress differently), put legal paperwork in place while capacity is still clear, and contact the Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio for guidance specific to your county.

Not sure where to start?

Answer five questions and a local advisor will come back with senior care options in your area that actually fit your situation and budget. It is free, and there is no obligation.

Find care options
Find senior care — free