09/18/2025

LeadingAge Ohio Submits Comments on Personal Needs Allowance Increase Rule

In response to the Ohio Department of Medicaid’s request for public comment on the draft rule to increase the Personal Needs Allowance (PNA) from $50 to $75, LeadingAge Ohio submitted comments on September 17, 2025.

While LeadingAge Ohio strongly supported this important change during the state operating budget process, there are concerns with the rule as currently written. In the draft, the rule applies only to individuals residing in medical institutions who do not have a base eligibility category that uses the modified adjusted gross income methodology in accordance with Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 5160:1. This definition does not appear to include residents of assisted living facilities. LeadingAge Ohio’s comment states that it is important to have parity across Medicaid long-term care settings, and it does not make sense to increase the PNA for one portion of the long-term care population and not another. The comment also asks that the state not “pass the buck” to providers by decreasing the amount for the room & board paid to assisted living providers in order to include these residents in the increase.

The increase is slated to take effect October 1, 2025.  LeadingAge Ohio will continue to provide updates on the rule.