CMS Announces Programs to Support Community-Based Living - March 2, 2011

The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on Feb. 22 announced a number of programs aimed at supporting efforts that allow Medicaid beneficiaries to live at home or in other community-based settings rather than in institutional long-term care. First, CMS issued a proposed rule implementing the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) Community First Choice Option, which will give states a 6% increase in federal matching funds for providing community-based attendant services and support for Medicaid beneficiaries. In total, CMS estimates that states could receive up to $3.7 billion through 2014 for providing such services. Comments on the proposed rule are due by April 26. Second, CMS announced that it had awarded Money Follows the Person (MFP) demonstration grants to 13 states to help provide resources and services that institutionalized individuals need to live at home or in other community-based programs. The 13 states will receive $45 million in the first year of the program and a total $621 million through 2016. The MFP program was set to expire at the end of fiscal year 2011, but has been extended under the ACA. Currently, 29 other states and the District of Columbia operate MFP programs.