What is PASSPORT?
PASSPORT (short for Pre-Admission Screening System Providing Options and Resources Today) is a Medicaid 1915(c) waiver. It pays for services that help an older Ohioan who would otherwise need a nursing home live at home instead. The Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) is the administrative agency; the Ohio Department of Aging (ODA) operates it under an interagency agreement (OAC 5160-31-03). Thirteen PASSPORT administrative agencies, twelve of them area agencies on aging, do assessments and case management.
Medicare doesn't pay for this kind of ongoing personal care. It covers home health care only when you are homebound and need skilled care, part time. That's why PASSPORT is a Medicaid program, not a Medicare one.
Who qualifies?
Under OAC 5160-31-03 you must:
- be 60 or older when you enroll,
- be financially eligible for Ohio Medicaid (decided by your county Department of Job and Family Services),
- need an intermediate or skilled level of care under OAC 5160-3-08, the same level that would qualify you for a nursing home,
- live in a home or community setting that meets the waiver rules (not a hospital, nursing facility or other licensed facility), with needs that can be met safely there, and
- need at least one waiver service a month that isn't available from another source.
You can't be on PASSPORT and in PACE or another Medicaid home and community-based waiver at the same time. If your income is above Ohio's special income level for long-term care, a qualified income trust may let you qualify.
What PASSPORT can pay for
ODM's PASSPORT program sheet lists these services, chosen for you in a person-centered services plan:
- Personal care aide, home care attendant and homemaker services
- Adult day health services and out-of-home respite
- Home-delivered meals, alternative meals and nutritional consultation
- Home modification, home maintenance and chore services, and home medical equipment
- Personal emergency response system
- Non-medical transportation
- Waiver nursing, social work or counseling, and structured family caregiving
- Community integration and community transition services
ODA says participants may be able to direct some services and hire their own caregivers, though not every family member qualifies.
How to apply
- Call your area agency on aging. Dial 1-866-243-5678 to be connected to the agency that serves your county. Staff start with a phone screening.
- Have an assessment. A nurse or social worker checks whether you need a nursing-facility level of care.
- Apply for Medicaid if you don't have it. Apply at benefits.ohio.gov or your county Department of Job and Family Services. You can also file form ODM 02399, Request for Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Waiver, with the county.
- Build your care plan. Once you are approved, a case manager works with you to set up services from local providers and checks on them.
If you qualify for a waiver under the special income level, Ohio's 60-month look-back on asset transfers applies (OAC 5160:1-6-06), and Medicaid paid for waiver services can be recovered from your estate after death if you were 55 or older (OAC 5160:1-2-07). See Does Ohio Medicaid take your house after death?
PASSPORT and MyCare Ohio
Next Generation MyCare Ohio has covered all 88 counties since August 1, 2026. When someone on PASSPORT, the Assisted Living waiver or the Ohio Home Care waiver is enrolled in MyCare, ODM moves them to the MyCare Ohio Waiver, which it says has the same benefits or more; their MyCare care coordinator arranges services. People who aren't eligible for MyCare stay on their original waiver, so PASSPORT continues for people 60 and older who are not in MyCare, such as people with Medicaid but not Medicare Parts A, B and D. See the MyCare Ohio guide.
Other Ohio waivers and PACE
| Program | Age | Where you live | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| PASSPORT | 60+ at enrollment | Your home or a qualifying community setting | OAC 5160-31-03 |
| Assisted Living waiver | 21+ at enrollment | A residential care facility licensed by the Ohio Department of Health; you pay room and board | OAC 5160-33-03 |
| Ohio Home Care waiver | Birth through 59 | Your home or a qualifying community setting | OAC 5160-46-02 |
| MyCare Ohio Waiver | 21+ (MyCare members) | Home or home-like setting | ODM MyCare FAQ |
| PACE | 55+ | A PACE service area | 42 CFR Part 460 |
All of them require a nursing-facility level of care. PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) covers all Medicare and Medicaid services through one local team and center. ODA lists PACE in Cuyahoga, Lorain, Summit, Franklin, Hamilton, Ashtabula, Trumbull, Mahoning and Montgomery counties; Montgomery opened November 1, 2026, and Lucas County is planned for 2027. PACE members aren't enrolled in MyCare Ohio.
Help and complaints
- Area agency on aging connect line: 1-866-243-5678. Ohio Department of Aging: 1-800-266-4346.
- State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, for problems with home care, assisted living or nursing homes: 1-800-282-1206.
- Ohio Medicaid Consumer Hotline: 1-800-324-8680.
For Medicare questions that come with long-term care, such as Part D plans or a dual eligible plan, you can request a call from a licensed insurance agent. More in Ohio Medicaid and Medicare and For caregivers.
Sources
- Ohio Administrative Code — Rule 5160-31-03, PASSPORT HCBS waiver program: eligibility and enrollment
- Ohio Department of Medicaid — PASSPORT Waiver program sheet (September 2025)
- Ohio Department of Aging — PASSPORT
- Ohio Department of Medicaid — PASSPORT waiver amendment, effective March 1, 2026
- Ohio Administrative Code — Rule 5160-33-03, assisted living program eligibility
- Ohio Administrative Code — Rule 5160-46-02, Ohio home care waiver eligibility
- Ohio Department of Medicaid — Next Generation MyCare Member Frequently Asked Questions (April 2026)
- Ohio Department of Aging — Find a local PACE center
- Medicare.gov — PACE
Frequently asked questions
Who qualifies for the PASSPORT program in Ohio?
Under OAC 5160-31-03 you must be 60 or older when you enroll, financially eligible for Ohio Medicaid, need an intermediate or skilled (nursing-facility) level of care, and be able to have your needs met safely at home or in a qualifying community setting. You also need at least one waiver service each month that you can't get another way.
How do I apply for the PASSPORT waiver?
Call 1-866-243-5678 to reach the area agency on aging that serves your county; it starts with a phone screening and then an in-person assessment. You can also file form ODM 02399, Request for Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Waiver, with your county Department of Job and Family Services, and apply for Medicaid at benefits.ohio.gov.
What is the Ohio Home Care Waiver?
A Medicaid waiver run by the Ohio Department of Medicaid for people from birth through age 59 who need a nursing-facility level of care and live at home (OAC 5160-46-02). At 60 and older, PASSPORT is the comparable home care waiver.
What is the Assisted Living Waiver in Ohio?
A Medicaid waiver that pays for services in a licensed residential care facility for people 21 and older who need a nursing-facility level of care (OAC 5160-33-03). Medicaid doesn't pay room and board; you must be able to pay the room and board amount the rule sets.
What happens to my PASSPORT services if I join MyCare Ohio?
You are moved to the MyCare Ohio Waiver, which the Ohio Department of Medicaid says has the same benefits or more. Your MyCare care coordinator arranges waiver services. People who aren't eligible for MyCare stay on PASSPORT.
Medicare in your Ohio county
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