Prospective Providers
Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio (COA) administers several programs through which prospective providers may apply to provide services.
These programs include:
- Community-Based Long-Term Care Programs (PASSPORT and Assisted Living);
- Elderly Services Program (ESP) (offered in Butler, Clinton, Hamilton, and Warren counties);
- programs funded by Title III of the Older Americans Act, Senior and Community Services;
- and Alzheimer State Funds.
Among the services offered are adult day services, companion, emergency response systems, environmental services, home-delivered meals, congregate meals, independent living assistance, home medical equipment and supplies, home repair, homemaker, personal care, respite care, social work/counseling, and transportation. Not all services are offered in all programs or counties.
COA Provider Defined
A service provider is an established business contracted to perform
needed services, at a COA approved rate, for eligible program
participants (clients).
To become a COA provider, you must first request an application.
PASSPORT and Assisted Living Program
Applications for the Community-Based Long-Term Care Program (PASSPORT and Assisted Living) are accepted at any time. Click here for information about becoming a PASSPORT Provider.
ESP, Title III and Alzheimer's State Funded Services
Applications or proposals for ESP (offered in Butler, Clinton, Hamilton, and Warren counties), Title III of the Older Americans Act, and Alzheimer State Funded programs are accepted only during an open application period. A notice will be placed on the Service Provider section of our Web site and in major local newspapers when the open application periods begin.
[back to top]
General Application Information and Process
Depending upon the COA program, interested businesses must submit either an application or a proposal and all required attachments.
If your business meets all the eligibility or certification criteria, you will be awarded an agreement to provide applicable services for the program(s). Criteria may include a pre-certification visit from a COA Quality Technical Advisor (QTA), and a recommendation to the appropriate review agency.
Community-Based Long-Term Care and Elderly Services programs
For the Community-Based Long-Term Care Program and the Elderly Services Program, your completed application (including all additional required data) must be submitted to our Business and Contracting Team, which will assist you in the application process. Your agency will be assigned a QTA who will conduct a pre-certification review of your agency to determine whether your agency meets the criteria for certification as a service provider for the program and the service(s) which you applied to provide.
Certification for the PASSPORT and Assisted Living Waiver programs
usually requires approval by the Ohio Department of Aging (ODA) and the
Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS). Our Business and
Contracting Team will forward your QTA's recommendation for your
agency's certification to ODA and ODJFS on your behalf.
Title III
Businesses seeking to become Title III providers must respond to a Requests for Proposals, which are issued periodically by COA.
ODA and ODJFS do not have to approve applicants for the ESP and Title III/Alzheimer State Funds programs.
[back to top]
The Agreement
After your agency has been certified or approved to be a provider, our Business and Contracting Team will send you an agreement (contract) for the program(s) and service(s) for which you are approved. The agreement usually consists of the agreement itself, which outlines the rights and responsibilities of the parties concerned, and lists the services, reimbursement rates, and if applicable, the counties for which your agency is approved. We will also include an Electronic Funds Transfer form (to allow COA to deposit reimbursements directly into your bank account) and additional paperwork as needed.
Your agency will be considered a provider once the properly signed agreement, and any additional requested information, has been processed in our office.
Once your agency is awarded an agreement, a QTA will continue to monitor and provide assistance to your agency.
Provider Orientation
All new providers or newly hired provider staff will be invited to participate in a Provider Orientation training session. This will assist your agency with program-specific training for referrals, billing, etc.
[back to top]
|
