government
HHS offers $3.7 billion for Medicaid long-term-care alternatives
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted March 7, 2011
The Dept. of Health and Human Services announced billions of dollars in new funding to states to provide alternatives to long-term care for Medicaid patients.
The department proposed a 6% increase in federal matching funds for community-based attendant services in Medicaid.
States could receive as much as $3.7 billion for these services, but they would need to develop specific plans allowing individuals receiving the community care to remain independent. The terms for the program were posted in an HHS proposed rule on Feb. 22.
"There is more evidence than ever that people who need long-term care prefer to live in their own homes and communities whenever possible," said Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Donald M. Berwick, MD. "The federal funding will make a difference in people's lives."
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/03/07/gvbf0307.htm.