HCA Meets with Executive Chamber on Federal HCBS Funds 

Situation Report | May 17, 2021

On Friday afternoon, HCA Public Policy staff and the Association’s government-affair representative, Caron Crummey of Hinman Straub, met with key health and fiscal staff from the Governor’s office and Division of Budget to discuss the federal funding that was allocated in this year’s final state budget for home and community-based services (HCBS). The $1.6 billion appropriation includes approximately $700 million for HCBS and has yet to be disbursed.

HCA requested the meeting to discuss the Executive’s intent on the spending mechanism of the funds, and to discuss the Administration’s timeline for rollout. The funds are subject to the criteria issued in federal guidance document that was released the night before HCA’s meeting with the Executive and DOB. (See related story.) All parties agreed that the meeting will be rescheduled once the Administration and HCA had time to appropriately review the guidance document.

HCA Public Policy staff is currently reviewing the complex guidance and will provide the Governor’s office and DOB with the Association’s feedback. HCA encourages providers to review the guidance and submit their feedback to HCA Public Policy & Advocacy Director Alyssa Lovelace for further discussion with both the Governor’s office and CMS in the coming days.