Ohio Consumer-Directed Care Under the PASSPORT Waiver

Choosing Your Own Caregiver Under PASSPORT

Most families assume that enrolling in Ohio's PASSPORT waiver means accepting whatever home health agency the Area Agency on Aging assigns. But Ohio has consumer-directed caregiver options under PASSPORT. Ask the regional AAA whether the participant or an authorized representative can recruit and manage personal care workers, including whether family members may qualify.

Consumer-directed care puts the family in control of who provides daily support. Instead of rotating agency aides who may change week to week, your parent can have a consistent caregiver they know and trust. This option matters especially for parents who resist help from strangers, have cultural or language preferences, or need care during hours that agencies don't reliably staff (early mornings, late nights, weekends).

How It Works

Under a consumer-directed option, the participant or authorized representative has more control over the selection and management of workers. The exact roles — who hires, schedules, trains, supervises, and handles payroll — depend on the option and the regional AAA. In practice, ask:

• Who can provide the care. The option may allow a neighbor, friend, or family member, but eligibility, screening, and certification rules must be confirmed with the AAA.
• How scheduling works. The care plan still limits the authorized tasks and hours, even when the participant has more say over scheduling.
• Who handles payroll. The program may use a fiscal intermediary; confirm who handles taxes, workers' compensation, and payroll before selecting a worker.
• The AAA case manager oversees the care plan. Your parent's care plan still goes through the standard PASSPORT assessment and approval process. The consumer-directed option changes who delivers the care, not what care is authorized.

Eligibility and Limits

Consumer-directed care is available to PASSPORT enrollees who meet the same eligibility requirements as the agency-directed option: aged 60 or older, meeting nursing facility level of care (NFLOC), and financially eligible (assets at or below $2,000, gross monthly income at or below $2,982 — or a Qualified Income Trust if income exceeds the cap).

The PASSPORT waiver's per-person service cap of $14,700 per month applies regardless of whether care is consumer-directed or agency-directed. This cap covers all authorized services — personal care, home-delivered meals, non-emergency transportation, home modifications — combined. Consumer-directed care cannot provide 24-hour one-on-one supervision.

Worker pay and administrative rules are set by the program and regional AAA; ask for them in writing before choosing a worker. The tradeoff is potential flexibility and continuity — you may be able to choose the person who provides authorized care.

Family Members as Caregivers

Ohio's consumer-directed options may allow certain family members to serve as paid workers, but the program and regional AAA determine whether a spouse, adult child, sibling, or other relative qualifies.

If hiring a family member, ask about screening and conflict-of-interest rules before naming that person. Do not assume that a legal guardian or financial power of attorney can serve as the paid worker.

Getting Started

To request the consumer-directed option, contact your regional Area Agency on Aging during the PASSPORT intake process and specifically ask about consumer direction. If your parent is already enrolled in PASSPORT through an agency, ask whether switching requires a care plan amendment.

The Hospital-to-Home in Ohio guide covers the full PASSPORT enrollment process, including how consumer-directed care fits into the transition timeline from hospital or SNF to home.

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