Ohio Home Care Workers Find Pay Inconsistent After Managed-Care Shift

Some Ohio home care workers are still not being paid regularly, six months after the state shifted its payment process to managed-care organizations.

WBNS, a TV station in Columbus, reported on December 16 that while home care workers are getting paid, their paychecks are not coming regularly.

Home care worker Cecilia Wenjah is quoted in the WBNS story as saying, “I can’t keep up with my bills. I can’t feed my children.”

Reporter Nathan Baca said that to make ends meet, some workers are relying on credit cards and pawning their possessions.

In June, Ohio contracted with two large managed-care organizations, Aetna Better Health of Ohio and Molina Healthcare of Ohio, to handle payroll for home care workers who provide services for “dual eligible” residents — those who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid.

Since then, numerous media reports have indicated that the shift to managed care has not gone smoothly, resulting in inconsistent payment for Ohio’s home care workers.

— by Matthew Ozga