Introduced in the Ohio House of Representatives on October 28, 2025, House Bill 552 would change how hospice providers are reimbursed when serving Medicaid patients who reside in nursing facilities or intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICFs/IID). The bill has been referred to the House Medicaid Committee but has not yet received a hearing.
The measure would amend Section 5164.16 of the Ohio Revised Code to require the Ohio Department of Medicaid to adopt rules—by January 1, 2028—ensuring hospice providers are reimbursed 100 percent of the facility’s daily rate for room and board when a hospice patient receives routine or continuous home care in a nursing facility or ICF/IID. Current rules limit that reimbursement to 95 percent of the facility rate.
Supporters note that aligning reimbursement with the full facility rate would better reflect the cost of care and strengthen partnerships between hospice providers and long-term care facilities. At the same time, implementation would require careful planning to balance provider sustainability with the fiscal pressures already facing the Medicaid program.
LeadingAge Ohio continues to review the legislation and its potential impact on both hospice and nursing facility providers. The association will engage with state partners and lawmakers to ensure that any changes to reimbursement policy support quality end-of-life care while maintaining the long-term viability of Ohio’s Medicaid system. For questions, please contact Eli Faes at efaes@leadingageohio.org.