On March 19, 2021, ADvancing States, in conjunction with our partners at the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS), submitted a letter to CMS with recommendations regarding the American Rescue Plan Act’s home and community-based services provisions. Section 9817 of the Act provides states an increase of 10% to their Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for HCBS delivered during the period beginning April 1, 2021 and ending on March 31, 2022. In the letter, ADvancing States and NASDDDS provide recommendations regarding the following items:

• The processes for states to receive funds and demonstrate compliance with legislative requirements;
• CMS’ planned approach to define and enforce the mandate that funding supplement and not supplant existing state funds for HCBS;
• Allowable uses of the additional Federal funding; and
• The timeline for funding to be obligated and expended.

Click here to access the full letter.