Federal government boosts support of HCBS, releases worker registry guidance
By
Kathleen Steele Gaivin
Dec 13, 2023
When the American Rescue Plan Act was passed in 2021, home- and community-based services were estimated to receive $12 billion. Now, $37 billion is now being used for HCBS across the country in all 50...
Long-term care financing success requires federal program, coverage across continuum: report
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Feb 08, 2022
A new federal benefit that would include taxpayer subsidies and cover the continuum of long-term care services, including residential care and home- and community-based services, would address some of...
CMS’ spending requirement in HCBS rule ‘not the right approach,’ senior living advocates say
By
Lois A. Bowers
Jul 06, 2023
A proposal that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services says is meant to “support and stabilize the direct care workforce” in home- and community-based settings, if it becomes final, ultimately...
OAA update includes ‘disappointing’ language that could burden providers, group says
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Feb 09, 2024
Some provisions in the most comprehensive update to the Older Americans Act in 36 years raise concerns about potentially stifling innovation and creating undue burdens on service providers, according to...
$25 million expansion adds 5 states and territories to Money Follows the Person program for HCBS
By
Lois A. Bowers
Aug 22, 2022
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, will award up to $5 million each to Illinois, Kansas and New Hampshire, as well as for American Samoa...
Bill would end federal mandate for states to recoup Medicaid costs for HCBS, care
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Apr 16, 2024
A proposed bill would end a mandate that states try to recoup costs for long-term care provided to Medicaid beneficiaries, including by seizing homes from disproportionately poor and minority families,...
11 states ready to go live with Medicaid HCBS final rule as deadline approaches, CMS says
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Feb 22, 2023
Eleven states are planning to go live under the regulations of the home- and community-based settings final rule on March 18, according to Melissa Harris, deputy director for the CMS Disabled and Elderly...
Money Follows the Person program limits hinder senior living’s ability to serve older adults, groups...
By
Lois A. Bowers
Aug 23, 2022
Industry associations representing senior living providers say they support the federal government’s Monday announcement of the expansion of Medicaid’s Money Follows the Person demonstration program...
CMS throws down ultimatum on HCBS settings final rule compliance
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Nov 29, 2022
The federal government is giving states and providers an ultimatum to make progress on meeting the requirements of the home- and community-based services settings final rule that goes into effect in the...
How states ‘way beyond crisis’ should invest in direct care workforce: panel
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Oct 20, 2021
Given the recent actual — and potential — federal investment in federal Medicaid programs, a panel of experts has laid out the current landscape and key opportunities for states that are “way beyond...