Appropriations committee receives plan for Medicaid rate studies covering home‑and‑community‑based services

The House Appropriations Committee on Feb. 13 considered H.13, a bill directing the Secretary of Human Services to determine payment rates and a methodology for Medicaid‑funded home‑and‑community‑based services (HCBS) and for designated and specialized service agencies. Committee members were told the bill requires rate studies and reporting but does not itself appropriate new funds.

Dan Noyes, a member of the Human Services Committee who presented the Human Services strike‑all recommendation, said the bill establishes a definition of “home and community based services” under Title 33 that encompasses long‑term supports for older adults and adults with disabilities provided outside nursing homes, including enhanced residential services, home health and hospice, adult day rehabilitation and assistive community care services. The language also brings designated and specialized service agencies under the Title 33 rate‑setting framework.

“[The bill] directs the Secretary of Human Services to determine payment rates for the providers of home and community based…