H.B. 246 Summary

• Establishes self-directed services options in three Medicaid home and community-based services waiver programs: PASSPORT, Ohio home care waiver, and integrated care delivery system.

• Requires participants to be enrolled and able to receive self-directed services within 30 days of application, with exceptions allowed for insufficient workers or delays beyond the participant's control.

• Mandates streamlined certification and enrollment processes including combined orientation meetings, concurrent rather than sequential processing, and allowing direct service workers and participants to apply separately without requiring a pre-matched pair.

• Permits direct service workers to provide conditional services for up to 60 days while undergoing required background checks and training.

• Classifies direct service workers as atypical providers exempt from national provider identifier requirements and requires use of financial management services' systems for electronic visit verification instead of traditional Medicaid vendors.