Ohio Home Care is Medicaid's integrated program of home care services. It is administered by The State of Ohio, Department of Job and Family Services. In the links below you can learn about the program and the role of CareStar.

Home and Community-Based Services Waivers
The State of Ohio operates several special programs called home and community-based services (HCBS) waivers. These programs are designed for consumers who must depend on medical care and other supportive services delivered in the home and community on a long-term basis.

With these programs, authorized by Section 1915(c) of the Social Security Act, the federal government waives certain Medicaid rules to let us help a limited number of eligible people with severe disabilities and medically unstable conditions live in their home and community instead of a nursing home, hospital, or facility for people with mental retardation/developmental disabilities (ICF-MR).  

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) administers the Ohio Home Care Waiver and the Transitions Waiver.

The Ohio Department of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities administers the Individual Options Waiver, the Residential Facilities Waiver, and the Level One Waiver.

The Ohio Department of Aging administers the PASSPORT Waiver and the Choices Waiver

The Consumer Benefit Packages
Ohio Home Care consists of three benefit packages: Core Plus, Ohio Home Care Waiver, and Transitions Waiver. All packages include "core" services of nursing, daily living, and skilled therapies. Skilled therapies include physical and occupational therapy and the services of a speech/language pathologist .

Core Plus Benefit … is the benefit package which consists of the Core Home Care Services of nursing services, daily living services and skilled therapy services. It is designed to meet the needs of consumers eligible for Medicaid who require a combined total of more than fourteen hours of daily living and/or nursing services per week.

Home Care Waiver … is the benefit package which consists of the Core Home Care Services of nursing services, daily living service and/or skilled therapy services plus one or more waiver service such as; home modifications, home delivered meals, adult day health care, short-term relief, supplemental transportation, adaptive/assistive devices, and emergency response systems. It is designed to meet the needs of consumers eligible for Medicaid who have been assessed to require an intermediate or skilled level of care. Without the services available through the Waiver benefit, these consumers are at risk for hospital or nursing home placement. Consumers approved for the Waiver benefit may receive care and services at home or they may choose to receive their care in a nursing facility.

Transitions Waiver … is the benefit package which consists of all of the services as listed above, however it is designed to meet the needs of consumers eligible for Medicaid who have been assessed to require an ICFMR/DD (intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded/ developmentally delayed) level of care. This Waiver is not open to new enrollees. You must first be on the OHC Waiver and be “transitioned” due to level of care considerations.