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HHS Secretary Thompson Urges States to Expand HCB Services
and Creates New Website

HHS Urges States to Expand HCB Services and Creates New Website

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson urged states August 13th to make continued efforts to overcome the institutional bias in Medicaid programs by providing benefits outside of nursing homes to Americans with disabilities. In a letter to the Governors, Thompson stated that nearly 20 percent of nursing home expenditures are made on behalf of individuals who have a disability and are under 65 years of age. (Click here for opy of the HHS press release and letter to governors.[http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2002pres/20020812.html]

In addition, Thompson announced that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has created a repository of Promising Practices in Home and Community Based Services to assist states, in partnership with their disability and aging communities, to strengthen their community long term support systems. Thompson noted that states have many affordable options for serving people with disabilities in the community rather than institutions, and he pointed to a new web site for identifying promising practices which will include future Promising Practices Reports being developed by The MEDSTAT Group under contract with the Disabled and Elderly Health Program Group within CMS.

While some states are undertaking comprehensive reform of their entire home and community-based service system, others are identifying specific components as targets for incremental improvement (person centered planning, personal assistance services). The reform efforts undertaken by the joint Federal-state partnership are designed to enable persons of any age with disabilities to live in the most integrated community setting appropriate to their individual support requirements and preferences; exercise meaningful choices about their living environment, their providers, the types of supports they receive, and the manner in which supportive services are provided; and obtain quality services in a manner consistent with their living preferences and priorities. The Promising Practices Reports are intended to stimulate HCBS program changes, spark creative ideas, and serve as a launching pad for the next generation of program innovations.

Promising Practices Reports address initiatives undertaken by states and communities in the following six general categories: (1) coherent, cost-effective administration and financing; (2) promoting independence, responsibility, and participant-driven services; (3) assistance to families and community caregivers; (4) coordination, communication and reduction of fragmentation; accountability and fulfillment of legal obligations; and (5) other critical supports for community inclusion and participation. The last category includes information on recruitment and retention of direct support workers. Individual reports under these six areas are already available at www.cms.gov/promisingpractices.

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