FAQ
If your question is not answered below, please contact providersupport@geaugadd.org
We are always looking for good, qualified providers in Geauga County. However, our services are voluntary and individuals choose who they want to provide those services. Because of this, we cannot accurately estimate the number of providers who will be working at any time. There is no guarantee that as a certified provider, you will be selected to provide services in Geauga County.
Individuals have the right to choose whom they want to provide any services that are Medicaid funded. That includes services accessed using your Level 1, Individual Options or SELF Waiver, Supported Living or Individual Budgets. Services might include:
- Homemaker/Personal Care
- Respite
- Social Work
- Specialized Equipment
- Environmental Adaptations
- Transportation
- Supported Employment
- Day Habilitation
Medicaid funded services must be provided by a provider certified by the Ohio Dept. of Developmental Disabilities. Individuals are free to mix and match services and providers. Depending on the person’s needs, they may choose one or several providers.
- Individuals may select any agency or individual currently certified to provide the service needed or may identify a person they would like to use as a provider and ask them to become a certified provider.
Service and Support Administrators (SSAs) can assist with the selection process.
- They can help access the DODD website in order to identify eligible providers
- They can help set up interviews
- They can help draft questions
- They can attend interviews
- BUT they cannot select a provider for an individual
People providing services to individuals with developmental disabilities need to be certified through the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities. Complete the following steps for certification as an Independent Provider:
1. Take the 8-hour pre-certification training.
8-hour Provider Certification Training Resources. Click on the name for more information:
Academy for Direct Support Professionals
Ohio Association of County Boards
2. If you do not have current First Aid and CPR certification, you will need to take training.
3. Get a BCII check. You will also need a FBI check if you have not lived in Ohio for the last 5 years.
The Geauga County Board can assist you in getting your BCII check. Please call Provider Support at 440.729.9406 to make an appointment.
Ask for your background check results to be sent directly to:
The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities.
DODD – MDA
Office of Provider Certification
30 E. Broad Street, 13th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
4. Complete the online application.
Once you have created an account, you can log on to the Provider Certification Wizard to start your application. The link is at the bottom of the page.
You will need to print out the forms in the “Downloads” section and sign and date them. You will need to scan and upload, email, fax or mail this information to DODD. Instructions are included in the online application.
Click here (PDF) to see what additional information is required for each service type.
5. CEO Requirements for Agency Providers
- Certification from the Secretary of State verifying your agency
- Letter from the IRS verifying your Tax Identification Number
- Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited university or college (or 4 years of experience in the field of Developmental Disabilities in lieu of a degree)
- Proof of experience: One year of paid, full-time work experience in the provision of services to individuals with Developmental Disabilities in the areas of supervision of staff; personnel matters; financial management; and supervision of services
At a minimum, you will need to contact Provider Support with your current contact information, including: name/name of agency, address, phone/fax number and email address.
Contact GCBDD at 440.729.9406 and ask for provider support.
It depends. If your brother or sister is eligible to receive services from a county board of developmental disabilities and has funding through a DODD waiver, you can get certified to provide services to your sibling.
DODD waiver information:
Waivers allow individuals to live in community settings of their choice with supports, rather than in an Intermediate Care Facility (ICF) or other institution. Currently, the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities administers three waivers: the Individual Options (IO) waiver, the Level I waiver (LI) and the Self Empowered Life Funding (SELF) waiver. If you feel you are eligible for waiver services, contact your local County Board of DD and request an application for enrollment or to get on a waiting list.
Providers do a variety of tasks, which could include: light housekeeping, laundry, assisting and transporting individuals to medical appointments, grocery shopping, accessing activities in the community, assisting with personal care, etc. The particular services you will provide are based on the individuals’ needs and their service plan.
In order to own the home and be the provider of services, you must operate a licensed facility. Ohio law limits the number of licensed beds that can exist throughout the state, and that capacity has been reached. Therefore, the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities is not increasing the number of licensed facilities. In addition, individuals choose whom they want to live with and where they want to live that they can afford. You may offer a property for rent to individuals with disabilities, but your property may not be chosen.
Independent Providers are not employed by the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities or the local county board of DD. You are considered self-employed. You will bill ODODD directly for any services you provide. No taxes are taken from your pay. You will need to make arrangements to pay taxes (federal, state, local, social security) on any income you receive as an independent provider.
You will complete your certification renewal through the Provider Certification Wizard on the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities website. You will be required to submit a recent BCII (background) check, proof of training and a certification fee. Other information will be requested based on the services you are certified to provide.
The following trainings are required yearly for independent providers:
- Incidents Adversely Affecting Health and Welfare (MUI/UI)*
- Rights of Individuals with Developmental Disabilities*
- Requirements for behavior supports for any individuals that have behavior support plans
- Principles of Positive Intervention Culture+
- Self-Determination+
- Proof of training must be submitted at time of certification renewal.
- Requirement for HPC providers only
CPR and First Aid must be up to date. (Copies of CPR and First Aid cards must be submitted at the time of certification renewal.)
Click here and enter information to search for a Web-Check location in your area.
Have your background check results submitted to:
Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities
Attn: Provider Certification Unit
30 East Broad Street, 13th Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215
OR
Fax: 614-728-7836
OR
Email to: Provider.Certification@dodd.ohio.gov
When an individual is looking for a new provider, a Request for Provider (RFP) will be placed on our website or sent out via email to providers. Review the information on the RFP. If you are interested in working with the individual, follow the instructions on the RFP and your information will be given to the SSA who will compile the information for the consumer. Once interviews are completed, the individual will choose which provider they want to assist them.
This particular service is known as Adult Foster Care or Host Services. You would need to be certified as a provider through the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities and an individual with waiver funds would have to choose to live with you. AFC providers are paid a daily rate and provide supports such as assistance with cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping, cooking, medical appointments, personal care, etc. If you live outside of Geauga County, the individual would need to be willing to transfer services to the county board of DD for the county where you reside.
If an individual receiving DD services requires assistance with medication, staff assisting that individual will need to be certified for Medication Administration through DODD. Medication Administration Training involves an initial 14-hour training course with yearly updates required.
Provider Compliance Reviews are done once every certification period for certified providers. Compliance reviews are designed to assure that providers are meeting the standards they agreed to when becoming a provider. Providers will be asked to show proof of training, proof of services provided and proof that incidents were reported as required. This process allows for providers to correct areas that need improvement. Special reviews can be completed at any time if there is a concern or complaint regarding a provider.
Fill out this form immediately.
There are specific ongoing training requirements, based on services you are certified to provide. Agency providers are required to provide training for their employees.
Training is available through a variety of sources, as listed below:
Academy for Direct Support Professionals (classroom training)
Beyond Our Boundaries (web-based training)
Ohio Alliance of Direct Support Professionals/DSPaths (web-based training)
OCALI Autism Internet Modules (web-based training)
Ohio Association of County Boards Training Center (web-based training)
First Aid and CPR Training Resources (CPR training must include an in-person skills test):
American Red Cross
The American Institute for Resuscitation
Emergency Care and Safety Institute
Emergency First Response
Medic First Aid
ProTrainings
You must bill DODD directly for the services you provide. You must have service documentation as evidence of the services before you bill for them. There is information available on the DODD website regarding billing. You may also contact the county board of DD where you are working to see if they have training available. Training is available through Geauga County DD if you are working with an individual in Geauga County. Please contact Margaret McGrath, Provider Compliance Specialist by email at mmcgrath@geaugadd.org
Misuse of an individual’s funds is an area of much concern. Misappropriation is one of the most investigated Major Unusual Incident categories. Unless you operate a licensed facility, there are no administrative rules regarding this. However, providers are required to oversee and monitor funds based on services listed in an individual’s ISP. Agency providers should have policies and procedures in place in this area. There are a variety of resources available through the DODD website as well as Geauga County DD, including the Guide to Managing Consumer Funds.
Please see the following form (PDF).
Assistance with provider enrollment is available through DODD. Independent TDD providers need to have a Compliance Review in order to show they received the required training to do TDD services. Additional information for providers is available on the DODD website.
You can look on the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services Provider Directory for possible providers. When screening providers, you need to ask if they have taken Major Unusual Incident and Individual Rights trainings in order to be eligible to provide TDD services. DODD is offering assistance with enrolling TDD providers. Additional information regarding TDD waivers can be found on the DODD website.
Provider meetings are held throughout the year for both Agency and Independent Providers. In addition, trainings are also offered throughout the year. Providers will be notified via email and snail mail regarding meetings and trainings. Assistance can always be provided by calling the GCBDD at 440.729.9406 and ask for Provider Support.