ANCOR Responds to Draft Legislation Proposing Mandatory HCBS

ANCOR submitted a formal response to a congressional request for feedback on draft legislation which would convert the Medicaid Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) program from an optional waiver into a mandatory program. The offices of U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Bob Casey (D-PA) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) released the discussion draft, which has not yet been formally introduced in Congress. To respond, ANCOR sought feedback from members, receiving comments from over 30 volunteers. We organized and summarized this feedback in our response, covering the following topics:

• Workforce development and support
• Medicaid rate setting
• Challenges surrounding HCBS infrastructure and suggested improvements
• Minimum service and standards
• Broader recommendations for future drafts, notably the need for clear definitions in the legislation

Additionally, ANCOR signed onto coalition comments on this proposal organized by the Disability and Aging Collaborative. We will keep our members informed of future developments surrounding this proposal, including opportunities for advocacy.