State Development Disabilities department won't use Medicaid funds for guardians

Following questioning from state auditors, the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities has stopped using Medicaid funds to pay for protective services for disabled adults (Source: “Medicaid won’t be used to pay guardians for developmentally disabled,” Columbus Dispatch, Aug. 30, 2011).

ODDD Director John Martin said that the department would use non-Medicaid funds in order to avoid interruption of services. A Department of Job and Family Services audit of 2009 and 2010 expenditures raised questions about services provided, but does not seek repayment of the funds.

“DODD did not provide adequate documentation to demonstrate the expenditures, used as a basis for claiming Medicaid reimbursement, were for actual and allowable services provided,” auditors wrote.