Federal Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Final Rule: Background, Overview and Observations
On January 10, 2014, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a long-waited final rule (regulation) about home and community-based services (HCBS) provided through Medicaid’s 1915(c) HCBS Waiver program, 1915(i) HCBS State Plan Option, and 1915(k) Community First Choice. The final rule is the result of multiple proposed rules and public comments over the past five years.
The rule and related CMS fact sheets are available at www.medicaid.gov/HCBS.
Medicaid Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICFs/IID) are not directly affected by this rule; however, the rule continues to demonstrate an ideological bias against disabled people who find friendships and benefits from living together and accessing services and amenities "under one roof.”
