Hi All:

We need your help.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently published a proposed rule, Ensuring Access to Medicaid Services, which aims to strengthen access to the Medicaid Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) program.

The American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR) states that the proposed rule as drafted does not address the underlying problem of payment inadequacy for HCBS. In fact, ANCOR states that the proposed rule contains a “HCBS Payment Adequacy” mandate that could threaten to reduce access to HCBS in an already fragile system.

Please take a few minutes to visit ANCOR's Act on Access! page and take action. It provides a convenient means to tell CMS that the proposed rule’s mandate on payment adequacy does not effectively address the underlying problem of inadequate payments and should be removed. It also allows you to advocate for CMS to include a requirement of regular reviews and competitive wages for direct care workers within the underlying payment models.

Thank you for your advocacy,

Will