Arkansas Medicaid Section 1115(a) demonstration: Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me (ARHOME)
“The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is approving Arkansas’s request for a new section 1115(a) demonstration titled, “Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me”(ARHOME) (Project Number 11-W-00379/6) (the “demonstration”), in accordance with section 1115(a) of the Social Security Act (the Act). Approval of this demonstration will enable Arkansas (“the state”) to provide premium assistance to Medicaid beneficiaries with incomes up to and including 133 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL), who are eligible under the new adult group, to assist beneficiaries in the purchase of coverage from qualified health plans (QHPs) offered in the individual market through the Federally Facilitated Marketplace”
Alabama Department Mental Health: Community Waiver Program
“The Community Waiver Program (CWP) is currently available in Baldwin, Elmore, Houston, Jefferson, Limestone, Madison, Mobile, Montgomery, Morgan, Tuscaloosa, and Walker counties. The CWP focuses on serving individuals before they and/or their families are in crisis. Service providers in this new program focus on important goals of Home and Community-Based Services programs such as community integration, opportunities for employment, and developing skills for independence.”
Alabama Medicaid Approved Application for 1915(c) HCBS Waiver (2021)
Community Waiver Program
“This demonstration assists the state in redesigning the HCBS delivery system to address concerns such as long waiting lists, high use of residential services and out-of-home placements, and low integrated community employment rates among its beneficiaries. This demonstration is unique in that it will increase access to necessary HCBS including supported employment and community integration supports, and individuals who live independently or with family will have enhanced supports to help maintain those living arrangements.”
Alabama Medicaid Elderly and Disabled Waiver (2022)
“The Elderly and Disabled Waiver is designed to provide services to allow elderly and/or disabled individuals who would otherwise require care in a nursing facility to live in the community. This waiver is operated by the Alabama Department of Senior Services.”
“The Commonwealth is modifying and expanding eligibility for the CommonHealth program to support goals of providing comprehensive coverage for individuals with disabilities in order to meet their health care needs. Massachusetts stated in its MassHealth extension application that the original design of the CommonHealth program created work incentives for individuals with disabilities, but that may have resulted in unintended disincentives for beneficiaries (e.g., beneficiary concerns about losing health coverage if they are unable to maintain stable employment and meet CommonHealth criteria). CMS is approving the Commonwealth’s request to streamline the CommonHealth adult eligibility process by eliminating the one-time deductible for non-working adults with disabilities and enable adults with long-term disabilities to retain their coverage after age 65 to support ongoing coverage and care in the community, regardless of their working status.”
U.S. Territories: HHS Expands Home and Community-Based Services in Five New States and Territories for Older Adults and People with Disabilities
“More than 40 states and territories will now participate in Medicaid’s Money Follows the Person demonstration program, which has provided billions to help seniors and people with disabilities safely transition from institutional care to their homes and communities
Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), awarded approximately $25 million in planning grants to five new states and territories to expand access to home and community-based services (HCBS) through Medicaid’s Money Follows the Person (MFP) demonstration program. With these awards, 41 states and territories across the country will now participate in MFP…
Awards of up to $5 million are being announced for Illinois, Kansas, and New Hampshire, as well as for American Samoa and Puerto Rico – the first time MFP grants have been made available to territories. These awards will support the early planning phase for their MFP programs. This includes:
• Establishing partnerships with community stakeholders, including those representing diverse and underserved populations, Tribal entities and governments, key state and local agencies (such as state and local public housing authorities), and community-based organizations;
• Conducting system assessments to better understand how HCBS support local residents;
• Developing community transition programs;
• Establishing or enhancing Medicaid HCBS quality improvement programs; and
• Recruiting HCBS providers as well as expert providers for transition coordination and technical assistance.”
