CMS Extends Deadline to Use American Rescue Plan Funds to Strengthen HCBS

On Friday, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced it is notifying states that they now have an additional year—through March 31, 2025—to use funding made available through the American Rescue Plan to enhance, expand, and strengthen the Medicaid Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) program. In its announcement, CMS noted, “the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the risks of institutional and congregate settings for older Americans and people with disabilities, underscoring the urgent need to expand access to high-quality HCBS to improve outcomes for people who need long-term services and supports.”