Assisted living closures prompt states to increase Medicaid HCBS rates to stifle workforce shortages
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Oct 26, 2023
More than half of the states have increased payment rates for Medicaid home- and community-based services to address workforce challenges after assisted living communities closed, according to new data...
Providers need funding to improve Medicaid HCBS access, quality, advocates say
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
May 01, 2023
Senior living advocates are applauding steps announced by the federal government to ensure equitable access to home- and community-based services provided via the Medicaid program, but they say that funding...
Assisted living needs to be part of enhanced Medicaid HCBS program, industry advocates say
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Jan 30, 2023
A proposal calling for permanent enhanced federal funding to states to expand the Medicaid home- and community-based services program needs to go a step further to emphasize the benefits of assisted living,...
Medicaid Access Rule review completed by White House
By
Lois A. Bowers
Apr 16, 2024
A proposed federal rule establishing mandatory quality measures for home- and community-based services and requiring providers to allocate 80% of HCBS payments to direct care worker pay is one step closer...
HCBS access rule heads to final review amid senior living industry concerns
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Jan 31, 2024
A proposed federal rule establishing mandatory quality measures for home- and community-based services and requiring providers to allocate 80% of HCBS payments to direct care worker pay now is under final...
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...
Better wages, working conditions key to attracting more workers to HCBS settings
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Apr 21, 2023
The size of the home- and community-based services workforce has not kept pace with expanding numbers of Medicaid program participants, according to a new study whose authors contend that better pay and...
Report outlines ways to get more HCBS support
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Sep 20, 2022
Assisted living providers can glean best practices from a report outlining state efforts to support home- and community-based service workers using federal COVID-19 relief dollars, according to one of...
Adviser to senior living communities: Think big before jumping into HCBS
By
Diane Eastabrook
Apr 22, 2021
“Thinking small” is the biggest mistake senior care communities can make when expanding into home-and-and-community-based services (HCBS).
Up to 713,000 direct-care jobs could be lost under proposed Medicaid cuts: report
By
Lois A. Bowers
Jun 15, 2017
Medicaid cuts proposed under the American Health Care Act could result in the loss of up to 713,000 direct-care jobs to provide long-term services and supports, according to a report released Thursday...