LeadingAge Ohio has been working closely with our provider members and the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) as the transition to the new eligibility for Medicaid has gone ‘live’ on August 1. Director of Advocacy Nisha Hammel has been collating member questions and forwarding them to our contacts at ODM for clarification. A collection of these questions and the ODM responses (a number of which indicated that the answers are in process) are below:
Question/Concern:
Conversion to the OBWP and connection with MITS has presented issues for eligibility.
ODM Response:
There is an issue with how information is being passed to MITS. This issue is being worked on.
Question/Concern:
Passport Administrative Agencies (PAAs) are the only entities that can currently add information to some of the screens in OBWP. One PAA was not notified until yesterday of the ODM changes or their role / involvement. PAAs have no access or logins to the new OBWP system and will need to be trained. Spoke with our PAA and they stated they have no idea what their role is in this, and that they do not have the staff to handle the amount of faxes coming in.
ODM Response:
This is incorrect. All PAA’s have been notified of this and workers have participated in training.
Question/Concern:
The Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) also has to add information to the new system, but there is no information as yet as to whether they have access to OBWP or have had any training.
ODM Response:
Training has been provided and access provisioned for DoDD.
Question/Concern:
The FAX number listed on the ODM 9401 form and instructions is not correct. Notified via email today they are working to get the form and instruction sheet updated and reposted to the ODM website.
ODM Response:
Correct, this will be updated as soon as possible.
Questions/Concern:
ODM training did not address all scenarios for when, how or who to submit the 9401 to for such residents admitting with only QMB, SLMB, Q1/Q2 benefits.
ODM Response:
Individuals who are only getting premium assistance are not on full Medicaid and therefore not eligible for Medicaid payment for their NF services. The process for individuals who are full duals is the same as anyone else.
Question/Concern:
Some providers have been told that they will not receive any response to 9401’s submitted to PAAs or ODM.
ODM Response:
We have not included a formal feedback loop back to the facility upon the receipt of the 9401. We will take this under consideration.
Question/Concern:
Will the 9401s match MITS for Liabilities? Currently there is a delay.
ODM Response:
While the 9401 can still be used to communicate information about patient liability, MITs remains the best source of this information.
LeadingAge Ohio will continue to work closely with the Ohio Department of Medicaid as we move forward with the 9401 transition. Any questions, concerns or barriers you are encountering with this roll-out may be forwarded to LeadingAge Ohio Director of Advocacy, Nisha Hammel, at nhammel@leadingageohio.org.