Source: Ohio Department of Medicaid
The Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) is implementing its Next Generation MyCare program beginning in January 2026. The program will better serve Ohioans who are dually eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid healthcare coverage.
To allow for a smooth transition, ODM will roll out the Next Generation MyCare program in two phases, beginning with each of the 29 counties where MyCare Ohio is currently available. Statewide expansion of the MyCare program will follow as quickly as possible. This phased timeline allows ODM to partner with all stakeholders to prepare for the program’s expansion and provide members as little disruption as possible.
While many hospitals and clinics have experience contracting with managed care plans like the Next Gen MyCare plans, ODM realizes that home and community-based providers offering long-term care and waiver services are likely used to traditional Medicaid. Since these services are often coordinated by Ohio’s Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), the phased timeline is organized around the AAA regions. See below for the full roll out approach:
On Thursday, January 1, 2026, ODM will roll out the Next Generation MyCare program in each of the 29 counties where MyCare is currently available today. These counties have been a part of the MyCare Ohio program since 2015. This understanding of today’s program lowers the effort needed for transition.
- AAA Region 1: Butler, Warren, Clinton, Hamilton, and Clermont
- AAA Region 2: Montgomery, Clark, and Greene
- AAA Region 6: Franklin, Delaware, Union, Madison, and Pickaway
- AAA Region 4: Lucas, Fulton, Ottawa, and Wood
- AAA Region 10a: Lorain, Cuyahoga, Medina, Lake, and Geauga
- AAA Region 10b: Summit, Portage, Stark, and Wayne
- AAA Region 11: Columbiana, Mahoning, and Trumbull
During Phase two, starting on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, and continuing through the year, ODM will roll out the Next Generation MyCare program in the remaining counties. On Wednesday, April 1, 2026, the below counties will be integrated into the Next Generation MyCare program. This approach allows all currently participating AAA regions that currently have experience in the MyCare Ohio program to bring the counties without MyCare today into the program, except for AAA region 2 because Catholic Social Services operates as the PASSPORT Agency Administrator in the non-MyCare Counties within AAA region 2, additional time is needed for these counties.
- AAA Region 4: Sandusky, Erie, Henry, Williams, Defiance, and Paulding
- AAA Region 6: Fayette, Fairfield, and Licking
- AAA Region 11: Ashtabula
- AAA Region 2: Preble, Darke, Miami, Shelby, Champaign, and Logan
- AAA Region 3: Van Wert, Putnam, Hancock, Allen, Mercer, Auglaize, and Hardin
- AAA Region 5: Seneca, Huron, Wyandot, Crawford, Richland, Ashland, Marion, Morrow, and Knox
- AAA Region 7: Ross, Vinton, Highland, Pike, Jackson, Gallia, Brown, Adams, Scioto, and Lawrence
- AAA Region 9: Holmes, Tuscarawas, Carroll, Jefferson, Coshocton, Harrison, Belmont, Guernsey, and Muskingum
- AAA Region 8: Hocking, Perry, Morgan, Noble, Monroe, Washington, Athens, and Meigs
This phased approach allows ODM to keep its focus on the individual rather than the business of managed care and provide continuity in the provision of members’ care, while preparing providers for this big change.
To find additional information, visit the MyCare Ohio webpage.