Cms Allows Medicaid Funding For Housing Related Services

Policy Overview: CMS Allows Medicaid Funding for Housing Related Services On June 26, 2015, the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services released a bulletin clarifying that existing Medicaid policy allows reimbursement for housing related activities for persons with disabilities, older adults needing long term services and supports, and persons experiencing chronic homelessness.1 This announcement is in alignment with CMS’ commitment to help states expand home and community based living opportunities as encouraged by the Affordable Care Act and the Americans with Disability Act as well as the ruling in Olmstead v L.C. 1 The goal is to promote and provide community integration for these identified populations.1 Additionally, it is the†¦show more content†¦These services support a person in successfully sustaining tenancy and include activies such as identifying and intervening in behaviors that may jeopardize housing, assistance in resolving disputes with landlords to reduce the risk of eviction and assisting with the housing recertification pr ocess.1 The last category of reimbursed housing related services is state level housing related collaborative activities. Reimbursed services in this category are those that assist a state in identifying and securing housing options for the identified eligible populations.1 There are a number of Medicaid sections and demonstration programs that allow reimbursement for housing-related services to promote community integration. Authorities and programs that allow reimbursement include: 1915(c) HCBS Waivers, 1915(i) HCBS State Plan Optional Benefit, 1915(1b) Community First Choice State Plan optional Benefit, 1915(b) Waivers, 1905(a) State Plan Services, Section 1115 Research and Demonstration Programs and Money Follows the Person demonstration.1Some of these authorities offer greater coverage opportunity than others.1 Medicaid offices have the opportunity to play an important role in convening state program offices and other partners to identify other non-Medicaid funding sources to s upport