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Last updated: 19 October 2026
Ohio’s PASSPORT waiver may pay for approved home care and supports for older adults who would otherwise need nursing-facility care. It is not a monthly cash allowance.
Bottom Line
To ask about PASSPORT, call Ohio’s aging-services line at 1-866-243-5678 and request the PASSPORT Administrative Agency for the older person’s county. Ask for a waiver assessment. The person must generally be 60 or older, meet Medicaid and nursing-facility care rules, live safely in the community with help, and have an available slot. See Ohio’s PASSPORT eligibility rule.
Start Here
- Find the right office. Use the state aging agency directory or call 1-866-243-5678. Ask which office handles PASSPORT for the person’s county; the regional aging agency and PASSPORT contractor are not always the same office.
- Check Medicaid. If not covered, follow Ohio Benefits’ Medicaid application instructions or contact county Job and Family Services. Tell the worker you need screening for Medicaid long-term services and supports, not just ordinary health coverage.
- Describe the daily care need. Tell the PASSPORT assessor what happens during bathing, dressing, toilet use, walking, meals, memory-related safety, and transfers. Ask when the care assessment and a written service plan can be reviewed.
| Situation | First question | Important limit |
|---|---|---|
| Age 60 or older; needs daily help to remain home | Can PASSPORT assess this person? | Medicaid, care need, safety, and slot rules apply. |
| Already has Medicare and full Medicaid | Should the Next Generation MyCare coordinator handle the waiver? | Do not assume two waivers can run together. |
| A relative hopes to be the paid worker | Does the approved plan allow participant direction or family caregiving? | Worker approval is a separate process. |
| Cannot safely wait for waiver services | What immediate care or discharge plan is available? | PASSPORT is not an emergency placement service. |
On This Page
What PASSPORT Covers
PASSPORT is a Medicaid home- and community-based services waiver. Ohio’s aging agency administers it with the Medicaid department. Approved providers deliver services under a care plan. The official covered-services rule sets the types of help the waiver may fund.
The program may authorize personal care, homemaker help, home-delivered meals, adult day services, transportation, safety alert systems, home modifications, medical equipment, nursing, respite, and other listed supports. Some people may use Structured Family Caregiving when they live with a caregiver. See the Ohio PASSPORT overview for the state’s explanation.
The care plan controls each person’s services. A person may need help with bathing, while another may need respite or day services. Our respite care guide explains what family breaks can look like.
| Support | What it may do | Ask about |
|---|---|---|
| Personal care | Help with bathing, dressing, and moving safely | Tasks, hours, worker type, and backup |
| Meals and homemaker | Food delivery or needed home tasks | Which tasks are approved and how often |
| Adult day or respite | Day support or a break for a caregiver | Available providers and days of service |
| Safety and access | Alert device, selected equipment, or approved home changes | Assessment, approval, and provider availability |
| Participant-directed care | More choice in selecting and managing a qualified worker | Worker rules and the payroll service |
Ask for approval before buying equipment or hiring a worker. To weigh home-care safety, see our home care comparison can help frame the discussion.
Who May Qualify
Ohio checks several things, not age alone. The person must meet Medicaid financial rules for this kind of long-term care, have needs that reach a nursing-facility level of care, and be able to receive services safely in a home or community setting. Needed support must not already be available at the required level from another source. The person must agree to the care-planning process. The enrollment requirements also call for an available waiver slot and medical-practitioner approval of the service plan.
Do not use old income figures. The Ohio Department of Aging’s public eligibility page still displays a sample financial figure marked 2024. That is not a verified 2026 or 2027 threshold. Ask the Medicaid worker to review current income, countable resources, household situation, and any allowed financial pathways. Our Medicaid for seniors guide explains why ordinary Medicaid and long-term care rules can differ.
The person need not live in a nursing home to ask about PASSPORT. Describe any unpaid family care, but do not hide safety risks.
What Happens at the Assessment
Medicaid reviews finances. The aging agency assesses daily function and safety at home. Ohio’s application and reassessment rule allows the assessment process to start after contact through either agency.
List daily tasks, falls, transfers, memory problems, and unsafe events. Give real examples, not just a diagnosis. Ask when you can review the proposed plan.
The person-centered planning rule says the older adult should lead choices when possible. The plan should name services, providers, and backup care. Ask for a copy. Reviews occur at least every 12 months and when needs change.
Helpful tip: Bring a one-week care diary. Write what help was needed, who gave it, and what happened when nobody was available. Keep the notes factual and short.
Can a Family Member Provide Paid Care?
Sometimes. PASSPORT has participant-directed options, including Choices Home Care Attendant and consumer-directed personal care. The participant can help choose a worker and schedule. But waiver approval does not automatically approve a relative as a paid worker. Ohio explains the choices on its participant-direction page.
Under the Choices attendant rule, a participant-directed worker generally may not work more than 40 hours a week for one participant unless the case manager authorizes extra hours for a qualifying emergency. Separate limits also cover the worker’s total weekly hours. A financial management service helps with payroll.
Ohio has extra rules when the worker is a spouse, guardian, or relative with legal decision-making power. The family worker rule provides narrow paths with conditions; the state’s general public FAQ uses more restrictive wording for consumer-directed providers. Do not assume a spouse or power-of-attorney holder can take the job. Ask the PASSPORT agency to name the permitted service and explain the decision in writing. Our Ohio caregiver payment guide covers the family-worker question in greater depth.
Structured Family Caregiving may fit a household where the caregiver lives with the person. It uses an agency-supervised daily-care model, not a guaranteed hourly paycheck. Services cannot be combined without checking the rules. The Ohio caregiver service rule sets training and provider requirements.
How to Apply Without Losing Time
- Call 1-866-243-5678 or use the PASSPORT office finder. Give the person’s county, age, care needs, and Medicaid status.
- Ask whether the agency can start PASSPORT screening now and whether you should file or update a Medicaid application through Ohio Benefits. Save proof of each submission.
- Complete financial and care assessments. Respond to document requests. Ask which medical practitioner must approve the service plan.
- Review the written plan. Check tasks, weekly schedule, provider names, backup care, transportation, and any proposed family-worker option before services start.
- Keep the approval or denial notice and the care manager’s contact details. Report a change in needs, residence, or provider as soon as possible.
Documents to Gather
- Identity, Ohio address, and Medicaid or other insurance information.
- Income, bank, resource, and other financial records the Medicaid worker requests.
- Medicine list, care diagnoses, doctor contacts, and recent hospital or facility papers.
- Names of helpers, a typical daily-care schedule, and safety concerns.
- Power-of-attorney or guardianship papers if another person acts for the applicant.
County offices may ask for more proof. Do not send private records to sites claiming to award PASSPORT grants. Our Ohio aging offices guide.
Costs, Waitlists, and Important Limits
Payment limits are not cash benefits. Ohio’s eligibility rule sets a $14,700 monthly waiver-service cost limit, with a stated exception process for some ongoing plans. It is not a cash payment to the older adult.
A slot is not guaranteed. When there is no PASSPORT slot, the agency may use Ohio’s unified waiting list. Some eligible people qualify for a separate Home First priority route. The waiver enrollment rule describes both. Ask for the case status and interim options.
2026 provider-enrollment warning: Ohio Medicaid lists a moratorium on new enrollment of several home-health and waiver provider types from 14 May through 14 November 2026, including waiver individuals and organizations, personal care aides, and home care attendants. See the state moratorium notice. This concerns provider enrollment, not a stated ban on seniors requesting screening. Ask how it affects your worker and what approved alternatives remain.
Estate recovery matters. Some Medicaid care costs can be recovered after a recipient’s death, subject to legal protections. Ask about effects on the home or estate. Ohio Medicaid explains this in its official estate-recovery answers.
Do not stack waivers. The PASSPORT eligibility rule does not allow simultaneous enrollment in another Medicaid home- and community-based waiver or the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). If the person has both Medicare and Medicaid, ask which care manager handles the right program and how to avoid a gap in care. Compare other Ohio supports in our Ohio senior benefits guide.
A limited state-funded PASSPORT component may apply while a Medicaid financial decision is pending or under grandfathered rules. It is not open to everyone denied Medicaid. The state-funded eligibility rule explains those limits. Ask the agency if that temporary or older route fits your case.
If the Case Is Delayed or Denied
Name the delayed step: Medicaid finances, PASSPORT assessment, slot, service approval, or provider enrollment. They are separate.
If denied, request the written notice and follow hearing instructions. The PASSPORT process rule points to Ohio state-hearing rights for financial or nonfinancial eligibility denials. The deadline and appeal route depend on the notice; do not wait for an informal callback if the notice gives a filing deadline. Worker eligibility decisions have different rules.
If care is missing, request backup or a revised plan. If home is unsafe now, call the care team or urgent services; do not wait on a waiver. Our caregiver hiring comparison may help with short-term planning; private-pay care is not automatically reimbursed by PASSPORT.
Reality check: Meeting the medical and financial rules does not guarantee an immediate worker, a preferred service schedule, or enrollment on a particular date. Local staffing and the approved plan still matter.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Calling PASSPORT a grant or expecting checks paid to all seniors.
- Using an income limit labeled 2024 for a 2026 application.
- Assuming a family worker may start billing before approval and enrollment.
- Confusing a waiting list for waiver slots with a provider-enrollment pause.
- Failing to report a care change or keeping no copy of a written decision.
Phone Scripts You Can Use
First call to the aging agency
“I am calling about an Ohio resident age 60 or older who needs help staying safe at home. Which PASSPORT office serves our county, and how do we request an assessment?”
Medicaid financial review
“We need Medicaid screening for PASSPORT long-term care services. What proof do you need, and can you confirm the current income and resource rules for this case?”
Participant direction
“Our family hopes to use a relative as a caregiver. Which participant-directed service could fit the care plan, and does the 2026 provider moratorium affect enrollment?”
Delayed or changed care
“An approved service is not reaching us, or the care needs have changed. Who can review the plan, arrange backup help, and give us the decision in writing?”
Resumen en Español
En Ohio, PASSPORT es un programa de servicios de Medicaid para algunas personas de 60 años o más que necesitan cuidados similares a los de un centro de enfermería, pero pueden vivir de forma segura en la comunidad con ayuda. No es un pago mensual automático. Llame al 1-866-243-5678 para pedir la agencia de PASSPORT de su condado y una evaluación. Pregunte por los requisitos actuales de Medicaid, los documentos, la lista de espera y los servicios autorizados. Un familiar no puede recibir pago sin cumplir las reglas del servicio y del proveedor. Si recibe una denegación, pida la notificación por escrito y revise cómo solicitar una audiencia.
Common Questions
Is Ohio PASSPORT a cash grant?
No. It is a Medicaid waiver that pays for approved home- and community-based services under an individual care plan. It does not give every senior a monthly cash allowance.
Must I already be in a nursing home?
No. The person can apply while living in the community. An assessment must show the required level of care and that approved support can keep the person safe at home.
Can my adult child get paid?
Possibly, if the care plan permits a suitable service and the relative meets the worker rules. Approval of the older adult’s waiver does not automatically approve the relative as a provider.
Can I apply during the provider moratorium?
You can still ask the PASSPORT agency for screening. Ohio’s 14 May through 14 November 2026 moratorium concerns new enrollment of listed provider types. Ask how it may affect the worker or service you need.
What if no PASSPORT slot is open?
Ask the agency about the unified waiting list, any Home First priority rule that may apply, and safe support while waiting. Do not assume a place or start date is guaranteed.
About This Guide
This guide uses official federal, state, local, and other high-trust nonprofit and community sources mentioned in the article.
Editorial note
This guide is produced based on our Editorial Standards using official and other high-trust sources, regularly updated and monitored, but not affiliated with any government agency and not a substitute for official agency guidance. Individual eligibility outcomes cannot be guaranteed.
Corrections
Please note that despite our careful verification process, errors may still occur. Email info@grantsforseniors.org with corrections and we will respond within 72 hours.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal, financial, medical, tax, disability-rights, immigration, or government-agency advice. Program rules, policies, and availability can change. Readers should confirm current details directly with the official program before acting.
Last updated: 19 October 2026 · Next review: 17 January 2027
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