Ohio updates remote support for 2026

CMS has approved amendments to Ohio’s Individual Options (IO), Level 1, and SELF waivers, effective January 1, 2026. The changes update how Remote Support and Assistive Technology services are defined, authorized, and monitored across waivers, with an emphasis on clearer expectations and more consistent oversight.

The approved amendments refine how Remote Support is described and managed within the waivers. Ohio’s updates include a clearer definition of Remote Support providers, along with clearer responsibilities for the monitoring base. The amendments also establish formal backup support requirements tied to Remote Support services, adding a defined expectation for how support will be maintained if primary remote systems or arrangements are not available.

The Assistive Technology service definition also changes under the amendments. Ohio will expand the Assistive Technology definition to include non-electronic items. In addition, subscription and recurring fees will count toward existing Assistive Technology caps, aligning ongoing costs with current funding limits rather than treating them separately.

The operational impact will be felt across documentation and day-to-day administrative work. Providers and SSA teams will need to update OhioISP documentation, service authorizations, and internal workflows to align with the updated terminology and the revised funding rules. Because the amendments apply across the IO, Level 1, and SELF waivers, organizations may need to standardize processes to ensure authorizations and monitoring practices match the new service definitions and requirements. Ohio’s 2026 waiver changes are part of the state’s broader HCBS waiver redesign, aimed at strengthening accountability and modernizing service delivery.