Ohio lawmakers continued their focus on property tax reform this week, advancing several bills that together represent one of the most significant overhauls of the state’s property tax system in decades.
Last week, the Ohio House of Representatives approved House Bill 129 and House Bill 309, both considered by the House Ways and Means Committee. The measures aim to modernize levy calculations and strengthen local oversight of property tax collections.
House Bill 129 modifies how school districts calculate the “20-mill floor” and allows fixed-sum property tax levies under limited conditions beginning in tax year 2026. These levies—restricted to five years and nonrenewable—may be used only for current operating expenses when a district faces fiscal distress or a declared emergency. The bill passed 81–16.
House Bill 309, passed 77–19, gives county budget commissions expanded authority to review and adjust local levy collections to ensure revenues align with demonstrated financial need. The bill also requires commissions to approve new voted levies without modification for their first five years and directs the Tax Commissioner to annually adjust fixed-sum levy rates to maintain approved revenue levels.
This week, lawmakers added another major component to the discussion with passage of House Bill 186, sponsored by Representatives Jim Hoops and Dan Thomas. The measure places an inflationary cap on increases in property tax revenue for school districts on the 20-mill floor and provides state-funded credits to offset the impact of retroactively applying that cap to property owners. The bill passed the House 72–23 after moving through both the Ways and Means and Finance Committees earlier in the week.
Paired with House Bill 335, which applies a similar inflationary cap to “inside millage” across local governments, HB 186 is intended to limit future tax spikes tied to rising property values. Supporters described the legislation as the most extensive property tax reform effort in half a century.
While these measures focus on schools and local taxing authorities, they could have downstream effects for county senior services levies, which fund programs for older Ohioans. Increased review from county budget commissions and caps on local millage growth could limit revenue flexibility for levies that support aging services, transportation, and home- and community-based programs. Depending on how these provisions are implemented, Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and local partners may experience additional scrutiny of fund balances or reduced capacity to expand services in response to rising costs.
Conversely, the bills could have a positive impact on independent living and other senior living communities, which have felt the increased burden of property tax inflation in recent years.
Together, the passage of HB 129, HB 309, and HB 186—along with companion legislation such as HB 335—signals lawmakers’ growing urgency to address property tax pressures across Ohio. LeadingAge Ohio will continue to monitor these developments as they move to the Senate and advocate for policies that preserve the stability of county senior services levies and ensure continued investment in local aging services. For more information, contact Eli Faes at efaes@leadingageohio.org. Top Connect directly with the next generation of nurses by participating in the Hondros College of Nursing Career Fairs. LeadingAge Ohio members are able to participate at no cost.
These in-person events allow providers to meet qualified candidates for a range of clinical roles, including medical assistants (MAs), state-tested nursing assistants (STNAs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and registered nurses (RNs). It’s an ideal way to share your organization’s mission and recruit dedicated individuals ready to make a difference in aging services.
Career fairs will be held throughout November at Hondros College of Nursing campuses across Ohio:
Each organization is asked to register for one session per campus to ensure opportunities for all providers.
Learn more about member discounts and event details by reviewing this flyer. LeadingAge Ohio members who order promotional items and branded materials will now find their familiar online store under a new name and platform: Promos4Nonprofits.com.
As of October 15, LeadingAgeOhioShop.com has transitioned to Promos4Nonprofits, the new centralized site serving nonprofit partners nationwide with a smoother, more efficient shopping experience. The updated site also includes a 2% cashback rebate on every purchase.
Members can continue using their current login credentials at Promos4Nonprofits.com/login. All accounts, order histories, and preferences have been automatically transferred to the new platform. Stay informed and engaged with the latest from LeadingAge Ohio by following us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube.
Join our growing online community to get real-time updates on education opportunities, new resources, advocacy efforts, networking events, awards celebrations, and member spotlights.
Through these platforms, LeadingAge Ohio shares timely news, highlights member achievements, and promotes programs that advance quality aging services across the state. Follow along to stay connected to the people and partnerships that drive our mission forward. On this episode of Another Word for Living…, host Susan Wallace sits down with Leilani Pelletier, Ohio's Long-Term Care Ombudsman, to explore the changes with Ohio’s Ombudsman program and what it means to serve as a trusted voice for residents. Together, they reflect on the meaning of advocacy during Resident Rights Month and spotlight the newly launched Ohio Residents’ Rights Council, which will be constituted of the Presidents of each Resident Council from nursing homes across the state.
Listen here or on any major podcast platform. There's always something happening at LeadingAge Ohio, view all upcoming events here and mark your calendar today!
- October 27, 1 p.m. - Hospice HOPE Support Group
- October 28, 3 p.m. - Meet Superior Health - Your New QIN-QIO Partner
- October 30, 10 a.m. - Philanthropy Network Meeting: FreeWill Fundraising/Grant Writing Platform Demonstration
- November 2, 5:30 p.m. - State Night Out in Boston
- November 2-5 - LeadingAge Annual Meeting and Global Ageing Network Conference in Boston
- November 6, 10 a.m. - Advocacy Committee
- November 7, 10 a.m. - Marketing, Communications, & Outreach Network with LeadingAge Indiana
- November 12, 11 a.m. - STAT: Survey Tips and Tactics 2025 – Elopement
- November 12, 12 p.m. - The Tipping Point: Exploring the Risk of Benefits Cliffs Among Direct Care Workers with LeadingAge Virginia
- November 12, 4 p.m. - Fall Regional Network Gathering in Cincinnati/Mason
Top Nursing home leaders are invited to participate in a national telehealth study led by Dr. Jessica Ancker and her biomedical informatics research team at Vanderbilt University. The study aims to better understand how telehealth is used in nursing homes, especially for residents with cognitive impairment, and how it affects the quality of care and efficiency.
Researchers are seeking input from medical directors, administrators, and directors through 45-minute remote interviews. Questions will focus on how facilities are using telehealth, barriers and facilitators to adoption, and its impact on residents and staff. All participants will receive a $100 e-gift card for their time.
Learn more about the study or how to participate here. Research will take center stage November 2–5 during the LeadingAge Annual Meeting and Global Ageing Network Biennial Conference. Nineteen researchers from around the world will convene in the Ageing Commons, located in the Experience EXPO (E2), to share findings from 21 studies on dementia care, workforce strategies, technology, wellness, and long-term care models.
Review the full lineup of studies and participating researchers through the LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston. Top Family caregivers in Ohio can now access additional support through the Structured Family Caregiving (SFC) program, administered by the Ohio Department of Aging and the Ohio Department of Medicaid. The service—delivered by Careforth—provides financial stipends and coaching for caregivers who live with and assist Medicaid-eligible adults at home.
Learn more about eligibility and enrollment by visiting Careforth’s website or calling 866-797-2333. This week, the Ohio Department of Medicaid released its 2026 MyCare Plan Comparison Guide for consumers to use to select their new Next Gen MyCare Plan. The Plan Comparison Guide was created to display benefits that both dual-benefits and Medicaid-only members receive from each plan that exceed Medicare A, B, and D services as well as Medicaid services (including state plan and waiver services). The tool can be used with Medicaid beneficiaries considering a change to their plan in 2026, or with those beneficiaries in counties new to MyCare that will be rolling into the program in mid-2026.
This finalized document was derived from information contained within CMS’ Health Plan Management System (HPMS) documents including sales presentations and Evidence of Coverage. Top The federal government remains shut down, with Congress still deadlocked on a short-term funding bill.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued new guidance clarifying the Medicare payment claims hold announced earlier this month. The Medicare Learning Network provided additional details about how the hold will affect processing timelines for fee-for-service claims. While payments will resume once federal funding is restored, providers may face short-term cash flow challenges.
The shutdown also halted the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ October jobs report, which was scheduled for release on October 3. The delay leaves policymakers and industry leaders without a crucial economic indicator used to assess workforce trends and wage pressures across the health care and aging services sectors.
Meanwhile, congressional inaction has allowed Medicare telehealth flexibilities to expire. These waivers have enabled older adults to access care from home, including behavioral health and primary care visits. LeadingAge is urging members and partners to contact their elected officials and advocate for permanent telehealth provisions through its action campaign.
Despite the ongoing shutdown, LeadingAge continues active engagement with federal agencies and coalition partners to protect aging services providers and the individuals they serve.
Following an October 15 memo urging temporary changes in survey and certification policies, CMS issued updated guidance on October 21, allowing revisit surveys for facilities facing denials of payment for new admissions—a significant advocacy win for providers navigating compliance amid limited federal operations.
In addition, LeadingAge joined hospice organizations in a joint letter urging the new Drug Enforcement Administration administrator to act swiftly on telehealth prescribing rules for controlled substances.
This week, LeadingAge national and state leaders are in Washington, D.C., for a fly-in hosted by the American Business Immigration Coalition, pressing for immigration reforms to stabilize the aging services workforce. Members nationwide are encouraged to support this effort through the organization’s Your Voice Matters action alert.
LeadingAge continues monitoring the shutdown through its serial page and the National Policy Pulse call each Monday at 3:30 p.m. ET. Please notify LeadingAge Ohio of any shutdown-related barriers so issues can be escalated to national partners. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated guidance on infection control measures to help prevent and slow the spread of influenza, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and COVID-19 to protect patients and healthcare personnel. Preparing for and responding to respiratory viruses requires a comprehensive approach that includes infection prevention, testing, vaccination, and treatment.
- Viral Respiratory Pathogens Toolkit for Nursing Homes – Summary of recommendations for long-term care facilities to PREPARE for respiratory virus season, to RESPOND when a resident or healthcare provider develops signs and symptoms of a respiratory infection, and to CONTROL transmission when spread has been identified in a facility.
In addition, CDC’s Project Firstline has created a variety of resources to promote infection control best practices during respiratory virus season, including Infection Control Guidance: Respiratory Viruses, an infographic that outlines infection control actions, and a one-pager explaining the risk of germs in the respiratory system. Top According to the State Operations Manual Appendix PP §483.75 Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) Program Feedback, Data Systems, and Monitoring, CMS requires facilities to have written policies and procedures for feedback, data collection, and monitoring, including adverse event monitoring. The regulation specifically directs facilities to set priorities for performance improvement activities that focus on high-risk, high-volume, or problem-prone areas. One such area receiving heightened scrutiny by surveyors is the administration of high-risk medications, particularly anticoagulants, insulin, and opioids.
The Long-Term Care Survey Process (LTCSP) instructs surveyors to review new admissions for the use of high-risk medications. The Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0, under Item N0415: High-Risk Drug Classes Use and Indication, includes a specific data element for tracking the use of these medications. The RAI manual states that residents taking medications in these classes are at risk of side effects that can adversely affect health, safety, and quality of life. The need for these medications should be carefully assessed, and possible non-pharmacological alternatives should be considered.
Facilities should integrate data collection and monitoring of high-risk medications into their QAPI program. Ongoing monitoring for compliance, using the surveyor guidance outlined in the State Operations Manual Appendix PP, will help ensure that facilities identify trends, prevent adverse events, and demonstrate effective performance improvement in this high-risk area. Effective under CMS’s 13th SOW, Superior Health Quality Alliance is now the official QIN-QIO for Ohio. This change affects every nursing home’s access to no-cost quality improvement resources, data reporting support, and partnership opportunities.
Because this new structure will remain in place for the next five years, understanding how to work within it is essential. This special webinar for LeadingAge Ohio members will give you the clarity and direction your team needs to seamlessly transition and stay aligned with CMS priorities.
Join this webinar to meet your new QIN-QIO partner and learn more about the transition. Top LeadingAge, in partnership with Ziegler and other expert members and firms, is launching a new webinar series examining key lessons from recent Life Plan Community (LPC) bankruptcies that have shaped the field.
Through three engaging sessions, expert panels—facilitated by Dee Pekruhn—will explore real-world case studies across three distinct scenarios:
- Successful resolutions where LPCs emerged stronger,
- Repeat bankruptcies and their lasting impacts, and
- Cases that resolved but could have achieved better outcomes.
Each session will offer thoughtful analysis and practical insights for providers, board members, and partners navigating today’s complex financial landscape.
You can learn more and register for the series on the LeadingAge Learning Hub. Top The Elizabeth Scott Community in Maumee recently celebrated resident Victor Gressler, a World War II Navy veteran, on his 100th birthday. Gressler enlisted at 17 after Pearl Harbor and served in Hawaii, Guam, and New Guinea. After the war, he returned to Ohio, married his high school sweetheart, and spent more than 30 years in the trucking industry.
A lifelong musician, Gressler still plays guitar and sings for fellow residents, sharing country classics from Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard. Staff say his joy and resilience inspire everyone around him.
Elizabeth Scott Community, a LeadingAge Ohio member, is honored to celebrate his century of life and service.
Read the full story from Spectrum News 1. Top Enrollment is now open for the Winter 2026 session of the Core of Knowledge, a program designed for Administrators-in-Residence that fulfills the academic requirement set by the Board of Executives of Long-Term Services and Supports (BELTSS) for qualifying to sit for the state licensure board examination to become a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator (LNHA).
The three-week course will be held January 12–30, 2026, Monday through Thursday, at the OCLC Conference Center. This is one of only two opportunities to complete the required coursework in 2026.
The deadline to register is December 5, 2025. Learn more and register for the 2026 Winter Core of Knowledge. For additional information, contact Corey Markham at cmarkham@leadingageohio.org. LeadingAge Ohio is now accepting applications for the 2026 cohort of the Leadership Academy, a 7-month program designed to build the next generation of leaders in aging services. Fellows explore their authentic leadership style, strengthen their ability to manage team dynamics, and develop innovative approaches to care. This program was created in partnership with nationally recognized leadership expert Michele Holleran, Ph.D., and senior leaders from LeadingAge Ohio member organizations who are alumni of the Academy.
Since 2013, Leadership Academy has graduated over 150 leaders. The program is open to employees of LeadingAge Ohio provider and associate member organizations, regardless of job title or background. Selection is based on leadership potential, commitment to aging services, and dedication to lifelong learning. Applications are due Friday, November 17, 2025, with fellows notified after the first of the year.
Learn more about the Leadership Academy here. Questions may be directed to Randi Hamill, Director of Workforce Development & Initiatives, at 614-545-9026 or rhamill@leadingageohio.org. LeadingAge Ohio holds valuable education webinars and in-person events throughout the year. Opportunities are added weekly. See the complete Schedule of Events. Top
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