Impose insurance requirements on certain Medicaid providers

136th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Tim Barhorst and 1 co-sponsor

Medicaid transportation providers must annually prove sufficient commercial auto liability insurance, and in-home care providers must annually prove at least $250,000 per-occurrenc

Referred to committee

#commerce #healthandhumanservices #insurance #medicaid

Summary of HB 956 (Ohio 136th General Assembly)

Purpose and intent

The bill seeks to require certain Medicaid providers in Ohio to maintain specified insurance coverage. It focuses on transportation providers and in-home care service providers within the Medicaid program.

Key provisions and changes

Medicaid transportation providers (Sec. 5164.40):

Prohibits acting as a Medicaid transportation provider unless the person annually provides proof of commercial automobile liability insurance to the Department of Medicaid.
The insurance must be sufficient to demonstrate financial responsibility, as defined in Ohio Revised Code § 4509.01.

Medicaid in-home care providers (Sec. 5164.41):

Prohibits acting as an in-home care Medicaid provider unless the person annually provides proof of liability insurance.
The insurance must provide at least $250,000 of bodily injury or death coverage per occurrence.

Scope of “in-home care services” (Sec. 5164.41(A)(B)):

In-home care services include:
Personal care services.
Home health services covered by Medicaid under the home health services benefit (per 42 C.F.R. § 440.70).
Services provided under Medicaid's Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver component.
Other Medicaid services delivered to a recipient in residential or community settings.

Who is affected

Individuals or entities acting as Medicaid transportation providers in Ohio.

Individuals or entities providing in-home care services funded by Medicaid (including home health, personal care, HCBS waiver services, and other Medicaid services delivered in residential or community settings).

Procedural/timeline aspects

The requirements are annual: providers must furnish proof of insurance on an annual basis to the Department of Medicaid to continue operating as a Medicaid provider under the new law.

The text specifies the insurance standards but does not detail deadlines, penalties for noncompliance, or enforcement mechanisms beyond the annual proof requirement.

Notable details

The transportation provision references financial responsibility as defined in Ohio statute on financial responsibility for motor vehicle operators (Section 4509.01).

The in-home care liability threshold is explicit: at least $250,000 per occurrence for bodily injury or death.

Potential impact (highlights)

Increased compliance burden for Medicaid transportation and in-home care providers due to annual insurance proof.

Providers may incur higher insurance costs or experience disruptions if they fail to meet the specified limits.

The bill aligns Medicaid provider requirements with general liability considerations, potentially improving protection for recipients and the state.

If you’d like, I can add a comparison to current law (how Medicaid providers are treated today) or outline potential implementation questions (enforcement, grace periods, overlap with existing insurance requirements).