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10202 - Incentives for States to Offer Home and Community-based Services as a Long-term Care Alternative to Nursing Homes

 
Implementation Status 
Statutory Text 

Summary

Creates a new State Balancing Incentive Payments program for qualifying states to offer Medicaid HCBS as a long-term care alternative to nursing homes.  Participating states are eligible for up to a 5% increase in their applicable FMAP (or 2% in certain cases) over the FY 2012 through FY 2015 period.

Delineates target spending percentages for the state to achieve by October 1, 2015 depending on the proportion of the state’s total expenditures for long-term services and supports under the Medicaid program are for HCBS.  Sets forth certain maintenance of effort (MOE) requirements relative to assuring that states do not impose more restrictive Medicaid eligibility standards, methodologies, or procedures for non-institutionally-based long-term services and supports than those otherwise in effect on December 31, 2010.  Provides that participating states implement within six months of its submission of an application under this section a “no wrong door/single point of entry” statewide eligibility system to ensure that individuals have access to all long-term services and supports in a centralized manner.

#Long-Term Care

Implementation Status

 
Summary 
Statutory Text 

Prior to January 2013, CMS issued guidance to states pursuant to this provision, including the structural changes required by the ACA under this program.  Per the initial funding opportunity announcement, applications are being accepted through August 1, 2014 or until funds have been expended, whichever date is earlier.  Note that a 2012 GAO report examines this new Medicaid HCBS option, among others.  For more information, including states with approved programs, visit CMS’ webpage dedicated to this program.  More information is also available regarding this initiative (including technical assistance to states) via the CMS contractor’s webpage.

2013

On May 7, CMS and SAMHSA issued a joint informational bulletin in which the agencies addressed coverage options, including these provisions under the ACA, for children, youth, and young adults with significant mental health conditions.

In a related event, on Oct. 22, CMS issued an informational bulletin announcing the availability of a new resource regarding Medicaid managed long-term services and supports (MLTSS).   Specifically, the guidance clarifies the application of existing External Quality Review (EQR) protocols to MLTSS.

2014

On a related note, on Dec. 15 and as a follow-up to CMS’ ongoing implementation of its Medicaid HCBS final rule, CMS released the final elements of the HCBS toolkit – information that is intended to assist states in implementing the requirements of the final HCBS regulation that pertain to both residential and non-residential settings (available here and here). CMS stated at the time that this technical guidance “complete[s] the subregulatory guidance that [the agency] plan[s] to issue at this time,” reiterating that states have until Mar. 15, 2015 to submit their statewide transition plans in this vein, which CMS noted “should address HCB settings requirements for both residential and non-residential services.” More information about the HCBS toolkit, please see here.

2015

On a related note, on Jan. 23, Sen. Hatch and Rep. Upton wrote (press release) to CMS asking about the status of states’ implementation of statutory eligibility and asset transfer criteria for Medicaid long-term services and supports (LTSS), including CMS’ support in facilitating compliance.

2017

On a related note, in early May, CMS issued an informational bulletin notifying states that it will extend the transition period after which states must demonstrate compliance with the HCBS settings criteria outlined in the 2014 HCBS final rule. Previously set to end on March 17, 2019, five years after the effective date of the rule, CMS says the transition period will be extended an additional three years until March 17, 2022.

2018

On a related note, on Aug. 24, CMS released the technical specifications for eight quality measures that states can consider when using a Managed Long-term Services and Supports (MLTSS) delivery system. States have historically used quality measures for MLTSS programs that are unique to their state. This new measure set gives states the ability to use some common measures when monitoring their program.

2019

On a related note, in March, CMS issued guidance (SMD # 19-001) for state Medicaid programs in the form of responses to FAQs regarding implementation of the January 2014 home and community-based services (HCBS) final rule. The document provides clarification on the “heightened scrutiny” process, which allows states to provide evidence to CMS demonstrating that a setting does not have the qualities of an institution but does have the qualities of a home and community-based setting. Our summary of the guidance is available here.

In August, CMS issued an informational bulletin that provides clarifications regarding how “heightened scrutiny” applies to construction of new settings that are presumed institutional as outlined in the home and community-based services (HCBS) settings rule. Our summary is available here.

In September, MACPAC convened a session today to discuss implementation of the HCBS rule and how states have progressed to comply with the rule. Our full summary is available here.

Statutory Text

 
Implementation Status 
Summary 

SEC. 10202 [42 U.S.C. 1396d note]. INCENTIVES FOR STATES TO OFFER HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES AS A LONG-TERM CARE ALTERNATIVE TO NURSING HOMES. (a) STATE BALANCING INCENTIVE PAYMENTS PROGRAM.—Notwithstanding section 1905(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(b)), in the case of a balancing incentive payment State, as defined in subsection (b), that meets the conditions described in subsection (c), during the balancing incentive period, the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for the State under section 1905(b) of such Act and, if applicable, increased under subsection (z) or (aa) shall be increased by the applicable percentage points determined under subsection (d) with respect to eligible medical assistance expenditures described in subsection (e). (b) BALANCING INCENTIVE PAYMENT STATE.—A balancing incentive payment State is a State— (1) in which less than 50 percent of the total expenditures for medical assistance under the State Medicaid program for a fiscal year for long-term services and supports (as defined by the Secretary under subsection (f))(1)) are for non-institutionally-based long-term services and supports described in subsection (f)(1)(B); (2) that submits an application and meets the conditions described in subsection (c); and (3) that is selected by the Secretary to participate in the State balancing incentive payment program established under this section. (c) CONDITIONS.—The conditions described in this subsection are the following: (1) APPLICATION.—The State submits an application to the Secretary that includes, in addition to such other information as the Secretary shall require— (A) a proposed budget that details the State’s plan to expand and diversify medical assistance for non-institutionally-based long-term services and supports described in subsection (f)(1)(B) under the State Medicaid program during the balancing incentive period and achieve the target spending percentage applicable to the State under paragraph (2), including through structural changes to how the State furnishes such assistance, such as through the establishment of a ‘‘no wrong door—single entry point system’’, optional presumptive eligibility, case management services, and the use of core standardized assessment instruments, and that includes a description of the new or expanded offerings of such services that the State will provide and the projected costs of such services; and (B) in the case of a State that proposes to expand the provision of home and community-based services under its State Medicaid program through a State plan amendment under section 1915(i) of the Social Security Act, at the option of the State, an election to increase the income eligibility for such services from 150 percent of the poverty line to such higher percentage as the State may establish for such purpose, not to exceed 300 percent of the supplemental security income benefit rate established by section 1611(b)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1382(b)(1)). (2) TARGET SPENDING PERCENTAGES.— (A) In the case of a balancing incentive payment State in which less than 25 percent of the total expenditures for long-term services and supports under the State Medicaid program for fiscal year 2009 are for home and communitybased services, the target spending percentage for the State to achieve by not later than October 1, 2015, is that 25 percent of the total expenditures for long-term services and supports under the State Medicaid program are for home and community-based services. (B) In the case of any other balancing incentive payment State, the target spending percentage for the State to achieve by not later than October 1, 2015, is that 50 percent of the total expenditures for long-term services and supports under the State Medicaid program are for home and community-based services. (3) MAINTENANCE OF ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.—The State does not apply eligibility standards, methodologies, or procedures for determining eligibility for medical assistance for non-institutionally-based long-term services and supports described in subsection (f)(1)(B) under the State Medicaid program that are more restrictive than the eligibility standards, methodologies, or procedures in effect for such purposes on December 31, 2010. (4) USE OF ADDITIONAL FUNDS.—The State agrees to use the additional Federal funds paid to the State as a result of this section only for purposes of providing new or expanded offerings of non-institutionally-based long-term services and supports described in subsection (f)(1)(B) under the State Medicaid program. (5) STRUCTURAL CHANGES.—The State agrees to make, not later than the end of the 6-month period that begins on the date the State submits an application under this section, the following changes: (A) ‘‘NO WRONG DOOR—SINGLE ENTRY POINT SYSTEM’’.—Development of a statewide system to enable consumers to access all long-term services and supports through an agency, organization, coordinated network, or portal, in accordance with such standards as the State shall establish and that shall provide information regarding the availability of such services, how to apply for such services, referral services for services and supports otherwise available in the community, and determinations of financial and functional eligibility for such services and supports, or assistance with assessment processes for financial and functional eligibility. (B) CONFLICT-FREE CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES.— Conflict-free case management services to develop a service plan, arrange for services and supports, support the beneficiary (and, if appropriate, the beneficiary’s caregivers) in directing the provision of services and supports for the beneficiary, and conduct ongoing monitoring to assure that services and supports are delivered to meet the beneficiary’s needs and achieve intended outcomes. (C) CORE STANDARDIZED ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENTS.— Development of core standardized assessment instruments for determining eligibility for non-institutionally-based long-term services and supports described in subsection (f)(1)(B), which shall be used in a uniform manner throughout the State, to determine a beneficiary’s needs for training, support services, medical care, transportation, and other services, and develop an individual service plan to address such needs. (6) DATA COLLECTION.—The State agrees to collect from providers of services and through such other means as the State determines appropriate the following data: (A) SERVICES DATA.—Services data from providers of non-institutionally-based long-term services and supports described in subsection (f)(1)(B) on a per-beneficiary basis and in accordance with such standardized coding procedures as the State shall establish in consultation with the Secretary. (B) QUALITY DATA.—Quality data on a selected set of core quality measures agreed upon by the Secretary and the State that are linked to population-specific outcomes measures and accessible to providers. (C) OUTCOMES MEASURES.—Outcomes measures data on a selected set of core population-specific outcomes measures agreed upon by the Secretary and the State that are accessible to providers and include— (i) measures of beneficiary and family caregiver experience with providers; (ii) measures of beneficiary and family caregiver satisfaction with services; and (iii) measures for achieving desired outcomes appropriate to a specific beneficiary, including employment, participation in community life, health stability, and prevention of loss in function. (d) APPLICABLE PERCENTAGE POINTS INCREASE IN FMAP.—The applicable percentage points increase is— (1) in the case of a balancing incentive payment State subject to the target spending percentage described in subsection (c)(2)(A), 5 percentage points; and (2) in the case of any other balancing incentive payment State, 2 percentage points. (e) ELIGIBLE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE EXPENDITURES.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), medical assistance described in this subsection is medical assistance for non-institutionally-based long-term services and supports described in subsection (f)(1)(B) that is provided by a balancing incentive payment State under its State Medicaid program during the balancing incentive payment period. (2) LIMITATION ON PAYMENTS.—In no case may the aggregate amount of payments made by the Secretary to balancing incentive payment States under this section during the balancing incentive period exceed $3,000,000,000. (f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: (1) LONG-TERM SERVICES AND SUPPORTS DEFINED.—The term ‘‘long-term services and supports’’ has the meaning given that term by Secretary and may include any of the following (as defined for purposes of State Medicaid programs): (A) INSTITUTIONALLY-BASED LONG-TERM SERVICES AND SUPPORTS.—Services provided in an institution, including the following: (i) Nursing facility services. (ii) Services in an intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded described in subsection (a)(15) of section 1905 of such Act. (B) NON-INSTITUTIONALLY-BASED LONG-TERM SERVICES AND SUPPORTS.—Services not provided in an institution, including the following: (i) Home and community-based services provided under subsection (c), (d), or (i) of section 1915 of such Act or under a waiver under section 1115 of such Act. (ii) Home health care services. (iii) Personal care services. (iv) Services described in subsection (a)(26) of section 1905 of such Act (relating to PACE program services). (v) Self-directed personal assistance services described in section 1915(j) of such Act. (2) BALANCING INCENTIVE PERIOD.—The term ‘‘balancing incentive period’’ means the period that begins on October 1, 2011, and ends on September 30, 2015. (3) POVERTY LINE.—The term ‘‘poverty line’’ has the meaning given that term in section 2110(c)(5) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397jj(c)(5)). (4) STATE MEDICAID PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘State Medicaid program’’ means the State program for medical assistance provided under a State plan under title XIX of the Social Security Act and under any waiver approved with respect to such State plan

Browse ACA Titles

  • I-Quality, Affordable Health Care for all Americans
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  • III-Improving the Quality and Efficiency of Health Care
  • IV-Prevention of Chronic Disease and Improving Public Health
  • V-Health Care Workforce
  • VI-Transparency and Program Integrity
  • VII-Improving Access to Innovative Medical Therapies
  • VIII-Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS ACT)
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