02/06/2025

Governor Unveils SFY 2026-2027 Budget Priorities

Governor Unveils SFY 2026-2027 Budget Priorities

Governor DeWine shared his priorities for the upcoming biennium via a statehouse press conference coinciding with the release of the “Blue Book,” a summary document of the SFY 2026-2027 biennial budget. During the press conference, DeWine made no mention of aging issues, opting to highlight family-oriented priorities like extending childcare scholarships and funding a new tax credit for any family with a child under 6 years old, and continuing previous program like the H2Ohio program. When asked about provider rates by reporters, DeWine noted that the budget continues those investments made in the previous budget: “We are continuing to fund the provider rates that were in the most recent budget,” stated OBM Director Kim Murnieks during the press conference. “The data inputs are remaining at fiscal year 2022.” She noted that in order to contain costs in the Medicaid budget, OBM did rely on the “lower bound actuarial forecasts,” as well as implementing work requirements for Medicaid.

The Blue Book offered more detail on the state’s plans for older Ohioans, maintaining near-flat funding in items like the senior services block grant (-2.7% in SFY 2026 and +.4% in SFY 2027) and Alzheimer’s and Dementia Respite programs, while eliminating pandemic-era programs like the Healthy Aging grants. Notably, recently established supports for nursing homes shall continue: the document specifically notes the continuation of Excel Academy and the Provider Resource and Education Program (PREP) housed within the Departments of Aging and Health respectively.

The first goal contained in the narrative for the Ohio Department of Health is to “improve the quality of care provided in nursing homes through regular assessments and staff training,” with four sub-goals:

Increase the number of provider resources and education programs provided to nursing homes by 50 percent through the Provider Resources & Education Program.
Reduce the incidence of complaints received at nursing homes.
Increase the number of recertification and completed complaint surveys for nursing homes. Decrease the number of repeat violations for compliance issues with the same or higher severity.

Later in the section, the budget notes a 17% increase in employed surveyors over the past biennium, with modest increases to the line-items that fund survey and certification activities for the coming biennium.

Absent from the Blue Book is detail on Medicaid provider reimbursement, though line 651525, which includes provider reimbursement, is slated for an increase of 1.7% in SFY 2026 and 7.6% in SFY 2027. Also outlined in Medicaid’s budget is the increase of Ohio’s personal needs allowance for nursing home residents from $50 to $100 per month. Ohio’s PNA has not seen an increase in well over a decade.

Administrative agency directors will begin testimony next week. The full text of the budget is anticipated on Monday, February 17.

Late last week, the House released its budget schedule which sends the budget to the House the week of April 9. Questions regarding the upcoming budget process may be directed to Eli Faes, Director of Public Policy at efaes@leadingageohio.org. Members are also encouraged to Save the Date for April 1, when LeadingAge Ohio members will gather at the Ohio statehouse for Advocacy Day.