Home- And Community-Based Care

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced Tuesday that the Affordable Care Act will provide additional funding to programs that help Medicaid beneficiaries move out of institutions—such as nursing homes—and into community set

Medicaid spending for home- and community-based services (HCBS) skyrocketed by 81.5% between fiscal years 2001 and 2007, according to a report released Tuesday by the National Center for Assisted Living. Meanwhile, spending on nursing homes grew by a modest 9.8% during that time.

Skilled nursing facilities face a projected Medicaid shortfall in 2009 of $15.64 a day, Joseph Lubarsky, a partner with accounting firm Eljay LLC, said Monday.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services plans to propose a rule allowing states to combine waivers for three separate home and community-based services target populations. This continues the federal government's push to expand Medicaid funding to home- and community-based care.