Senator Schmitt’s Historic Provision to Expand Medicaid Services for Americans with Disabilities Passes U.S. Senate

The Helping Communities with Better Support Act is the Largest Investment in Home Care Services in History

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) today celebrated passage of his historic provision, which mirrored his Helping Communities with Better Support (HCBS) Act. This provision will expand home and community-based services for individuals with developmental disabilities. Senator Schmitt championed this effort and successfully fought for its inclusion as part of the Senate reconciliation package.

“As we continue to secure historic wins under President Trump’s leadership and our Republican majority, it is crucial that we continue to advocate and support Americans with disabilities, who often need a level of specialized care that is beyond what their families can provide. Expanding access to home and community-based care will go a long way in supporting individuals with disabilities, and I am grateful to have the support of my colleagues to pass this critically important effort out of the Senate,” said Senator Eric Schmitt. 

States offering home and community-based services limit the number of waiver “slots” meaning only a fixed number of people can receive services at a time. This creates years-long waitlists for people with disabilities who can’t get the appropriate care they need. This legislation expands overall HCBS capacity and allows states to offer these services to more people.

Background:

• This legislation gives states the option to expand HCBS to more individuals with disabilities while ensuring it doesn’t negatively impact those who are already eligible. 
• This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide up to 60 days of interim HCBS care for newly eligible individuals so they can receive care while their full plan is developed.
• States seeking expanded HCBS waivers must prove that adding new populations will not increase wait times for existing eligible individuals and must provide estimates and service comparisons to CMS.

Click HERE to read full text of the bill.

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