Ohio · HCBS Programs

Ohio Medicaid waiver programs

Ohio operates HCBS waivers through three separate agencies: DODD County Boards of DD (IO and Level One for I/DD), the Ohio Department of Aging and AAAs (PASSPORT for adults 60+), and ODM managed care organizations (Ohio Home Care for adults under 60 with physical disabilities). Eligibility criteria, application channels, and waitlist timelines differ across programs. This guide explains each — confirm current details with the administering agency.

Ohio HCBS waiver programs at a glance

Individual Options (IO) Waiver

Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) · County Board of DD

Who it serves: Adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD) who require an intensive level of community-based support.

How to apply: Contact your County Board of Developmental Disabilities to request an intake appointment. The County Board completes eligibility determination and places eligible individuals on the county interest list.

Waitlist times vary significantly by county — some Ohio counties have multi-year IO waiver waits. Request written confirmation of your interest list registration date from the County Board as proof of your position. Confirm current wait status directly with your County Board of DD.

Level One Waiver

Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) · County Board of DD

Who it serves: Adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD) who need a lower intensity of community support than the IO Waiver — often individuals living with family.

How to apply: Same County Board of DD intake process as IO. The County Board determines which DODD waiver level fits the applicant's support needs during the eligibility assessment.

The Level One Waiver provides fewer service hours and a lower funding level than IO. It is often the first DODD waiver a family accesses before transitioning to IO when needs increase. Both share the county interest list system.

PASSPORT Waiver

Ohio Department of Aging · Area Agency on Aging (AAA)

Who it serves: Adults 60 and older who meet nursing-facility level-of-care criteria, or adults under 60 who need a nursing-facility level of care and do not have a developmental disability.

How to apply: Contact your local Area Agency on Aging or call 1-800-266-4346 (Ohio's aging services line). An AAA assessor conducts a functional assessment to determine level-of-care eligibility and connects eligible individuals to PASSPORT managed care.

PASSPORT is administered through managed care organizations (MCOs) as of 2023. Once enrolled, a care coordinator manages the service plan. Nursing-facility residents transitioning to community care, CHOICE participants, and hospital discharges may receive first priority for available PASSPORT slots.

Ohio Home Care (OHC) Waiver

Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) · Managed Care Organizations

Who it serves: Adults under 60 who have a physical disability or medically complex condition requiring nursing-facility level of care, and who do not have a developmental disability.

How to apply: OHC enrollment is managed through Ohio Medicaid managed care organizations. Contact your MCO or call the Ohio Benefits hotline at 1-844-640-6446. A level-of-care assessment is required to confirm eligibility.

OHC provides home health aide, personal care, adult day health, and other community supports. Unlike DODD waivers, there is no county interest list — eligibility determination and enrollment timelines depend on the MCO. Confirm current OHC enrollment procedures with your MCO or the ODM member services line.

How to apply for an Ohio Medicaid waiver — 6 steps

Step 1

Identify which Ohio waiver program fits the applicant's diagnosis and age

Ohio's HCBS waivers serve distinct populations through different state agencies. DODD waivers (IO and Level One) are for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities with onset before age 22 — administered through County Boards of DD. PASSPORT is for adults 60+ or adults meeting nursing-facility level of care who are not I/DD — administered through the Ohio Department of Aging. Ohio Home Care (OHC) is for adults under 60 with physical disabilities — administered through ODM and managed care organizations. Starting with the wrong agency delays eligibility determination, so identify the correct track first.

Step 2

Confirm Ohio Medicaid enrollment or begin enrollment simultaneously

All Ohio HCBS waivers require active Ohio Medicaid enrollment before a waiver slot can be activated. Log in to Ohio Benefits (benefits.ohio.gov) to check enrollment status or apply for Medicaid through your County Department of Job and Family Services. Most programs allow a family to join a county interest list while Medicaid enrollment is pending, but the slot cannot be finalized without active enrollment. Track the Medicaid application case number separately from the waiver application — they are two parallel processes.

Step 3

Gather documentation before the intake appointment

For DODD waivers (IO and Level One): a psychological evaluation with IQ and adaptive behavior scores from a qualified psychologist is required to confirm I/DD diagnosis; also gather physician records, an IEP or school testing records if the applicant is school-age, and any prior functional assessment reports. For PASSPORT: physician documentation of the medical condition limiting daily activities, records of recent hospitalizations or skilled nursing stays, and current medications. For OHC: physician documentation of the disability or chronic condition plus level-of-care supporting records. All programs require proof of identity, Ohio residency, Social Security number, and active Medicaid enrollment confirmation.

Step 4

Contact the right agency for the applicant's program

DODD waivers: contact your County Board of Developmental Disabilities directly — there is no statewide DODD application portal. Find your county board at dodd.ohio.gov/county-boards. PASSPORT: contact your local Area Agency on Aging or call 1-800-266-4346. OHC: contact your Ohio Medicaid managed care organization or call the Ohio Benefits line at 1-844-640-6446. Using the wrong intake channel means re-starting the process with the correct agency; confirm the agency before submitting any forms or records.

Step 5

Record your registration date and all confirmation details immediately

County interest list position for DODD waivers is based on registration date, not severity of need. Write down the exact date and time of contact with the County Board, any confirmation reference number, and the name of the staff member you spoke with. For PASSPORT and OHC, record the intake date confirmed by the AAA or MCO in writing — request an email or letter confirming the date. Screenshot any online portal confirmations. This paper trail is your proof of position and protects you if a dispute arises about registration date.

Step 6

Monitor your status annually and update contact information whenever it changes

Ohio County Boards of DD maintain county interest lists; families can request status updates from their county board. Annual renewal notices are sent to confirm continued interest — missing a renewal or being unreachable causes loss of waitlist position after years of waiting. For PASSPORT and OHC, coordinate with your care manager or MCO for periodic reviews. Update your contact information with the County Board, AAA, or MCO any time it changes, and respond promptly to every piece of correspondence from DODD, ODM, or the Department of Aging.

Start my Ohio waiver organizer — free Ohio waiver checklist HCBS eligibility guide

Documents to gather before applying

Collect these before your County Board of DD intake, AAA assessment, or MCO enrollment call. Missing documentation is the most common reason eligibility determinations are delayed.

✓Proof of identity (state ID, birth certificate, or passport)
✓Proof of Ohio residency (utility bill, lease, or government mail)
✓Social Security number for the applicant
✓Active Ohio Medicaid enrollment confirmation or pending case number
✓Qualifying diagnosis documentation (psychological evaluation with IQ and adaptive behavior scores for DODD waivers; physician letter for PASSPORT or OHC)
✓Medical records confirming the disability or chronic condition
✓IEP or school-based testing records (if applicant is school-age)
✓List of current medications and treating physicians
✓Records of recent hospitalizations or skilled nursing facility stays (if applicable)

More Ohio and national waiver guides

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Ohio Medicaid waiver programs FAQ

What Medicaid waiver programs does Ohio offer for home and community-based services?

Ohio operates several HCBS waivers across three administering agencies. DODD waivers — Individual Options (IO) and Level One — serve adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities and are administered through County Boards of Developmental Disabilities. The PASSPORT Waiver serves adults 60+ or adults meeting nursing-facility level-of-care criteria, administered through the Ohio Department of Aging and Area Agencies on Aging. The Ohio Home Care (OHC) Waiver serves adults under 60 with physical disabilities or complex medical needs, administered through Ohio Medicaid managed care organizations. Additional DODD waivers (SELF, Supported Living) exist for specific housing and self-direction needs.

What is the difference between the IO Waiver and the Level One Waiver in Ohio?

Both IO and Level One are DODD waivers for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities. IO — Individual Options — is the more intensive waiver and serves individuals who require a higher level of community support; it typically has more service hours and a higher funding level. Level One is for individuals who need a lower intensity of support, often those living with family. The County Board of DD determines which waiver level fits the applicant during the eligibility assessment. Both operate through the county interest list system.

Is there a waitlist for Ohio DODD waivers?

Yes. Ohio DODD waivers operate county-level interest lists managed by each County Board of Developmental Disabilities. Position is based on registration date, not severity of need. Wait times vary significantly by county — some Ohio counties have IO waiver wait times of several years. Request written confirmation of your interest list registration date from your County Board immediately after registering, and respond to every annual renewal notice to maintain your position. Contact your County Board directly for current wait estimates in your county.

How do I apply for an Ohio DODD waiver?

Contact your County Board of Developmental Disabilities to request an intake appointment — there is no statewide online portal for DODD waivers. Find your county board at dodd.ohio.gov/county-boards. Before the appointment, gather a psychological evaluation with IQ and adaptive behavior scores to document the I/DD diagnosis (required for eligibility), plus physician records, proof of Ohio residency, proof of active Ohio Medicaid enrollment, and identity documents. The County Board reviews records, completes eligibility determination, and places eligible individuals on the county interest list.

How does the PASSPORT Waiver differ from DODD waivers?

PASSPORT is not a DODD program. It is administered through the Ohio Department of Aging and Area Agencies on Aging. PASSPORT serves adults 60 and older (or adults who meet nursing-facility level-of-care criteria regardless of age) who do not have a developmental disability as the primary qualifying condition. DODD waivers require I/DD with onset before age 22. PASSPORT is delivered through managed care organizations as of 2023, so once enrolled, a care coordinator manages the service plan. Intake starts with a call to your local AAA, not the County Board of DD.

What is the Ohio Home Care (OHC) Waiver?

Ohio Home Care (OHC) is an HCBS waiver for adults under 60 who have a physical disability or medically complex condition requiring nursing-facility level of care, and who do not qualify for DODD waivers. OHC is administered through Ohio Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs). Covered services typically include personal care, home health aide, adult day health, and community transition services. There is no county interest list for OHC — enrollment timelines depend on the MCO. Contact your MCO or call Ohio Benefits at 1-844-640-6446.

Does WaiverPath apply for Ohio waivers on my behalf?

No — WaiverPath is an organizer for families, not an agency, representative, or benefits advisor. Free accounts open the Ohio waiver guide and basic document tracking. Plus ($6.99/mo or $49/yr) adds a forms assistant for logging your County Board intake notes, Medicaid enrollment status, interest list registration details, annual renewal reminders, and contact records in one organized place. Always confirm eligibility rules, program requirements, and current wait times with your County Board of DD, Area Agency on Aging, or managed care organization.

WaiverPath is not a government agency, law firm, Medicaid provider, or benefits advisor. We help you organize information, documents, and follow-up tasks. Always verify requirements with the official agency or a qualified professional.