Legislation
State and federal legislation play a unique role in Ohio's developmental disabilities services field. Listed below is legislation OPRA is closely following.
State Legislation
The bill requires every home and community-based services Medicaid waiver component to reserve a portion of the participant capacity for eligible individuals whose spouse or parent or legal guardian is an active duty military service member who recently transferred to Ohio.
5/22/2020- This bill was passed by the House and Senate and awaits the signature from the Governor.
Federal Legislation
H.R.5443 - Isaiah Baker and Margie Harris-Austin Act
The bill would give states to option to reimburse Direct Support Professionals’ (DSP) time supporting individuals during short-term hospital stays if the individual is receiving services through a with Home and Community-Based Services under a 1915(c) waiver.
The language of this bill was incorporated into the recently passed CARES Act. In order for providers to be paid for this service, a state must add the service to their state plan.
H.R. 5429 - The SENIOR Care Act and corresponding S. 3010 Supporting and Empowering the Nation to Improve Outcomes that Reaffirm Careers, Activities, and Recreation for the Elderly Act
This bill would remove the age limit of 64 for workers with disabilities to enroll in a Medicaid buy-in option. It is currently sponsored by Ohio Representative Steve Stivers and Ohio Senator Rob Portman.
H.R. 4397 - Direct Creation, Advancement, and Retention of Employment Opportunity Act and corresponding S.2521 - Direct CARE Opportunity Act
This bill would create grants administered by the US Department of Labor and the US Department of Health and Human Services to look at the recruitment, retention, and development of direct care workers and direct support professionals across the long-term care spectrum.
S.3277 - The HCBS Infrastructure Act
This bill provides seven-year grants to states to improve the Home and Community Based Services systems by funding a variety of initiatives that would strengthen the Home and Community-Based Waiver program.
S.3369 - A bill to require the Office of Management and Budget to revise the Standard Occupational Classification system to establish a separate code for direct support professionals, and for other purposes and corresponding H.R.6045 - To require the Office of Management and Budget to revise the Standard Occupational Classification system to establish a separate code for direct support professionals, and for other purposes
This bill would direct the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to create a new code in the federal Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system for “direct support professionals” (DSP).
