LeadingAge NY Advocates for Enhanced 10 Percent HCBS FMAP

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has published guidance for state Medicaid agencies for the spending of Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) funding going to states. New York will receive a 10 percent enhanced HCBS FMAP, or $1.6 billion, for Medicaid HCBS and must use it to supplement, not supplant, HCBS programs and services.

Provider rate increases and supplemental payments, among others, are specifically allowed uses of the dollars. To demonstrate compliance with program rules, states receiving the dollars cannot restrict eligibility, eliminate or narrow services, or cut provider rates across HCBS programs until the dollars are spent.

The guidance requires states to submit initial reports to CMS by mid-June. LeadingAge NY will be developing advocacy priorities for the Department of Health (DOH) as they develop how they plan to spend this money. We encourage members to provide feedback on priority areas where this funding would best be put to use.

LeadingAge National has provided an article on the guidance and the many provider types and programs eligible for funding. The guidance itself is available here. States have until March 2024 to spend down the funds.

Contact: Meg Everett, meverett@leadingageny.org, 518-929-9342