Miami study: Ohio Medicaid makes progress rebalancing long-term care, more work needed

A new study from the Scripps Gerontology Center at Miami University found that the proportion of long-term care Medicaid services provided in the home has increased from less than 10 percent in 1993 to 42 percent in 2009 (Source: “More older residents getting home care,” Cincinnati Enquirer, June 19, 2011).

The authors of the report, titled “Coming of Age: Tracking the Progress and Challenges of Delivering Long-Term Services and Supports in Ohio,” (pdf, 65 pages) conclude that although Ohio has made progress toward encouraging more in-home care for Medicaid enrollees, there is still an imbalance between funds spent on institutional care and home care.

“In 2009, Ohio spent $4.85 billion on Medicaid long-term care, including services for older people and Ohioans with developmental/or physical disabilities: $3.3 billion on institutional care (68%) and $1.55 billion on community-based services (32%)” according to the report. “Ohio now ranks 40th highest among states in spending in their institutional/community ratio for individuals of all ages, but has improved from 47th in 2005. Ohio ranks 33rd in the institutional/community ratio for individuals age 60 and older.”