How to Get Started as a New Service Provider

Provider Development Overview

Our Provider Development staff strives to develop supportive partnerships with providers to promote quality care and services for PASSPORT, Assisted Living, and Older Americans Act (Title III) programs. Working as designees for the Ohio Department of Aging (ODA), we assist with the certification process and conduct regular monitoring to ensure compliance with regulations specific to each program and service.

Prospective Provide Information

Among the services offered are adult day services, choices home care attendant service, home maintenance and chores, personal emergency response system, home medical equipment and supplies, homemaker, home modification, personal care, social work/counseling, transportation, home-delivered meals, assisted living service, and waiver nursing service.

In order for your agency to be considered for certification, you must meet the following conditions:

• Be a formally organized business with a physical facility and business telephone, and be registered with the state of Ohio.
• Currently provide the services for which you are seeking certification.
• Currently billing and receiving payment for those services.

General Application Information and Process

• Interested businesses must submit an application on the Provider Network Management (PNM) Module, which can be launched from the Ohio Department of Aging website under the Certification tab in the ‘For Agencies & Service Providers’ section. Be sure to review the rules prior to application; 173-9 Criminal Records Check and 173-39 Certification of Community-Based Long-Term Care Service Providers. Our Provider Relation Coordinators are available to answer questions about the Ohio Administrative Code rules, but the application process must be completed through the Ohio Department of Aging’s Certification process.
• The application fee is $688 as of January 1, 2023.

Below is a brief overview of the process that will be followed for certification of your agency as a PASSPORT or Assisted Living Waiver program service provider.

• Apply online via the Ohio Department of Aging website.
• The Ohio Department of Aging (ODA) will be notified when an application is submitted.
• ODA will contact the agency to request additional paperwork.
• ODA will contact Buckeye Hills Regional Council (AAA8) when a completed application packet has been submitted.
• Buckeye Hills will contact your agency to conduct a pre-certification review.
• The Provider Development staff will contact the agency to schedule a pre-certification review/visit to determine if the agency meets all Requirements of All Participants, Criminal Records Checks and Services Specifications.
• After this review/visit, Provider Development staff will notify the agency of the results of their review.
• The recommendation will be sent to ODA. ODA will make the final determination.
• If ODA approves the certification, Buckeye Hills will be notified, and an agreement will be sent via email to the agency for electronic signature.
• Once Buckeye Hills receives the signed agreement from the agency, the agency will be able to receive referrals from Buckeye Hills.
• If ODA denies certification, the agency will receive notification from Buckeye Hills.

*If at any time during this process there are changes to the agency or, if you wish to change/add/drop services or counties, you must contact Buckeye Hills’ Provider Development staff as soon as possible.