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Everything you need to know about BMD and the industry.

Increased Medicaid Rates to Take Effect This Month for Ohio Providers

Client Alert

As required by House Bill 33, Ohio’s 2024-2025 operating budget bill, reimbursement rates paid by the Ohio Department of Medicaid will increase for a wide range of providers starting on January 1, 2024. The rate increases total roughly $3.4 billion per year and apply to the following types of providers:

  • Non-institutional providers:
    • Ambulatory surgical centers / dialysis
    • Testing / lab / X-ray / durable medical equipment
    • Physicians / advanced practice registered nurses / physician assistants / clinics / skilled therapy
    • Vision and eye care
  • Community behavioral health providers
  • State plan private duty nursing / home health providers
  • Home and Community Based Services waiver providers:
    • PASSPORT waiver providers
    • Assisted living waiver providers
    • Ohio home care waiver providers
    • MyCare Ohio waiver providers
    • Individual Options waiver
    • Level 1 waiver providers
    • Self-Empowered Life Funding (SELF) waiver providers
  • Department of Developmental Disabilities providers

Beginning on January 1, 2024, the majority of the codes in the Ohio Medicaid fee schedule for non-institutional providers increased by 5% or more. Specifically, there was approximately a 5% increase for physicians, APRNs, PAs, clinics, skilled therapy providers, ambulatory surgical centers, laboratories, dialysis providers, X-ray providers, and DME providers. Additionally, there was a 5.7% dispensing fee rate increase for pharmacies, a 79% rate increase for transportation providers, and a 93% rate increase for dental providers. There was no rate increase for FQHCs. However, there was a 10% baseline rate increase for community behavioral health rates.

The increased reimbursement rates authorized by HB 33 apply to dates of service starting January 1, 2024, and beyond. Note that ODM will reimburse all services based on the date the service was rendered, not the date the provider bills for the service. ODM also reminded providers that, even after the rates are increased due to HB 33, providers must continue to charge their reasonable and customary rates regardless of anticipated reimbursement from the department. ODM’s fee schedules and rates are codified in the Ohio Administrative Code and accessible for providers on ODM’s website.

If you have questions about ODM’s reimbursement rate increases, please contact your local BMD Healthcare Attorneys Daphne Kackloudis at dlkackloudis@bmdllc.com or Ashley Watson at abwatson@bmdllc.com.


America’s New COVID-19 Relief Package — Unpacked

On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the highly anticipated American Rescue Plan Act (the “Act”) into law, a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill aimed at addressing and resolving many of the lingering questions and concerns following the expiration of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”) on December 31, 2020.

Vaccinating Against Design and Construction Risk: A COGENCE Alliance Momentum Recap

Last month, COGENCE Alliance hosted a four-day conference, attended by owners, affiliates, construction managers, trades, engineers, and architects. David Scott presented and other BMD team members hosted breakout discussions on how to “vaccinate against design and construction risk.” Groups discussed new and developing risks, how to mitigate those risks, and qualities of those who best adjusted to the new and developing risks.

Healthcare Provisions of the American Rescue Plan

On March 11, 2021, President Joe Biden signed into law H.R. 1319, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (the “ARP”). In addition to the widely reported additional stimulus paychecks, the ARP includes many provisions related to the healthcare industry and marketplace that seek to improve access and affordability. The major provisions of the ARP that affect the healthcare sector are summarized below:

2020 EEOC Statistics – More Money and Fewer Charges

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released its comprehensive report on the workplace discrimination it received in Fiscal Year 2020. The Enforcement and Litigation Statistics provide detailed breakdowns of charges of employment discrimination and resolutions under a variety of statutes. Here are the highlights:

A New Formation Solution – is the SSLC Right for Your Business?

In early January 2021, Ohio adopted Senate Bill 276 which established a Revised Limited Liability Company Act (“ORLLCA”) as Ohio Revised Code Chapter 1706, which effectively replaces the current Ohio Limited Liability Company Act (Ohio Revised Code Chapter 1706). The ORLLCA will become effective on January 1, 2022. One of the principal changes within the ORLLCA is the ability to establish “series LLCs”. Ohio becomes the 15th state to adopt a “series LLC” (“SLLC”). The below FAQs will help you better understand the mechanics and nuances of a series LLC.