HCBS Access Act

The HCBS Access Act requires states to cover home and community-based services (HCBS) under Medicaid for eligible individuals with disabilities or older adults who need these services to live in the community rather than in institutions. The bill establishes a 5-year implementation timeline for states to develop plans including individualized assessments to determine service needs and addressing workforce shortages for direct care professionals. Key provisions include expanding Medicaid coverage for HCBS, making permanent certain Medicaid provisions (spousal impoverishment protection and Money Follows the Person), and creating a grant program for states to implement these services. The bill directly affects over 53 million unpaid family caregivers and nearly 2.6 million direct care professionals by improving service access and addressing workforce challenges. It requires data collection on service access by demographics to address disparities and improve quality of care for vulnerable populations.