Ohio Structured Family Caregiving vs Michigan Home Help Explained
Ohio Structured Family Caregiving (SFC) and Michigan Home Help both pay a family member to care for a loved one at home, but they work differently. Ohio SFC pays a live-in caregiver a daily stipend through a provider agency under the PASSPORT waiver. Michigan Home Help pays an hourly rate through MDHHS with no live-in requirement.
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Key takeaways
- Each state runs its own Medicaid program, so the program that applies depends on where the person receiving care lives.
- Ohio SFC is a live-in model with a daily stipend; Michigan Home Help is an hourly model with no live-in requirement.
- Ohio SFC caregivers work through an SFC provider agency; Michigan Home Help caregivers enroll as individual providers in CHAMPS.
- Supportive Solutions Homecare serves Michigan today and is preparing to launch in Ohio.
What is Ohio Structured Family Caregiving?
Structured Family Caregiving is a service offered through Ohio’s PASSPORT Medicaid waiver, which is administered by the Ohio Department of Aging through regional Area Agencies on Aging. PASSPORT serves Ohioans age 60 and older who need a nursing-facility level of care but want to stay at home. SFC is also available to some members of Ohio’s MyCare managed care plans.
Under SFC, a caregiver who lives full-time with the person receives a daily stipend rather than an hourly wage. The caregiver works with an SFC provider agency, which handles the payments, checks in regularly, provides coaching and keeps the required records. The person receiving care must meet PASSPORT’s medical and financial rules, and the caregiver must pass a background check. Spouses and legal guardians are generally excluded, so confirm with the SFC agency before planning around it.
What is the PASSPORT waiver?
PASSPORT is the umbrella program. Alongside SFC it can fund personal care aides, adult day services, home-delivered meals, medical equipment and minor home modifications, with a care manager from the Area Agency on Aging building the plan. Ohioans under 60 with disabilities are typically served through the Ohio Home Care Waiver instead.
How does Ohio SFC differ from Michigan Home Help?
Michigan’s Home Help program, run by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), is an entitlement for any Michigan Medicaid recipient who needs hands-on help with at least one activity of daily living. Here is how the two compare.
| Ohio Structured Family Caregiving | Michigan Home Help | |
|---|---|---|
| State agency | Ohio Department of Aging via Area Agencies on Aging | MDHHS county offices |
| Who qualifies for care | Adults 60+ on PASSPORT (and some MyCare members) who meet nursing-facility level of care | Any age with Michigan Medicaid and an assessed ADL need; no level-of-care requirement |
| Live-in requirement | Yes, caregiver and care recipient share a home | No |
| How the caregiver is paid | Daily stipend through an SFC provider agency | Hourly rate set by MDHHS, for approved hours, paid through CHAMPS |
| Caregiver enrollment | Hired and supported by the SFC agency | Enrolls as an individual provider in CHAMPS, or works through an agency |
| Who can be the caregiver | Relatives and friends; spouses and guardians generally excluded | Spouse, adult child, relative, friend or neighbor, after a background check |
| Waiting list | Possible, since PASSPORT is a waiver with limited slots | None; Home Help is an entitlement |
| Visit verification | Agency check-ins and records | Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) for each visit |
In both states, payments to a caregiver living in the same home may be treated as difficulty-of-care payments under IRS Notice 2014-7 and excluded from federal income tax. Review the IRS guidance or ask a tax professional.
Which program applies to my family?
Medicaid is state-based, so the answer is simple: the program follows the person receiving care.
- If your parent lives in Michigan, Home Help or the MI Choice Waiver applies, even if you live in Toledo and drive up to help.
- If your parent lives in Ohio, PASSPORT and SFC apply, and Michigan Home Help cannot pay you.
- If your parent moves across the state line to live with you, they will need to apply for Medicaid in the new state before either program can start.
For Michigan families, our guide to getting paid to take care of a family member in Michigan walks through Home Help enrollment step by step, and become a paid caregiver lists what you will need.
Is Supportive Solutions Homecare available in Ohio?
Not yet. Today we serve Michigan families in Detroit, Dearborn, Warren, Sterling Heights, Ann Arbor, Flint, Lansing and Grand Rapids, in English, Arabic and Spanish. We are preparing to bring the same family-caregiver support to Ohio, starting with the Toledo and Cleveland areas.
If you are in Ohio, send us your details and we will notify you when we open. Meanwhile, your local Area Agency on Aging can start a PASSPORT assessment.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Home Help program available in Ohio?
No. Home Help is a Michigan Medicaid program run by MDHHS. Ohio’s equivalent for paying a live-in family caregiver is Structured Family Caregiving under the PASSPORT waiver, administered by the Ohio Department of Aging. Ohio also offers personal care aide services through PASSPORT and the Ohio Home Care Waiver.
How much does Ohio Structured Family Caregiving pay?
SFC pays a daily stipend rather than an hourly wage. The amount depends on the level of care the person is assessed to need, and it is paid through the SFC provider agency. Rates are set by the Ohio Department of Aging and can change, so ask the agency or your Area Agency on Aging for the current figure.
Can I get paid through Michigan Home Help if I live in Ohio?
Only if the person you care for lives in Michigan and has Michigan Medicaid. Home Help pays for care delivered in the recipient’s Michigan home, and the caregiver enrolls in CHAMPS regardless of where they live. If both of you live in Ohio, look to PASSPORT and Structured Family Caregiving instead.
Does Ohio SFC require the caregiver to live with the person?
Yes. Living together full-time is what makes it “structured family caregiving,” and the daily stipend reflects round-the-clock support. Michigan Home Help has no such requirement; a caregiver can live elsewhere and be paid for approved hours, although living together may affect how the payments are taxed.
Ohio families: get notified when we launch
We are bringing family-caregiver support to Ohio soon. Contact us with your city and we will let you know the moment we open, and point you to the right PASSPORT resources in the meantime. Michigan families can get started today.
Check your eligibility or call (313) 977-6888.