OVERVIEW

As part of the American Rescue Plan Act, Congress provided a temporary 10% increase in the federal matching on Medicaid home- and community-based services (HCBS). Delaware’s Medicaid program is claiming enhanced federal match and is listening to the community for the best ways to use that funding to support HCBS.

In order to claim this enhanced federal funding, States must develop and submit a detailed spending plan to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that uses the dollars to enhance, expand or strengthen HCBS, and do it in a way that is sustainable after the enhanced funding ends. The funding cannot be used for room and board payments. 

DMMA has partnered with the following divisions for the initiatives identified in HCBS Spending Plan:

• Division of Developmental Disabilities Services (DDDS)
• Division of Health Care Quality (DHQ)
• Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities (DSAAPD)
• Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH)
• Division of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families (DSCYF)

Delaware’s initial HCBS Spending Plan and subsequent quarterly HCBS Spending Plan updates include initiatives involving DMMA, DDDS, DSAAPD, DSAMH and DSCYF and total approximately $49.8 million in enhanced federal funding for the following categories: 

• Workforce: retaining and building a high-quality network of HCBS providers
• Services: enhancing capacity, access and promotion of HCBS services
• Infrastructure and Support: strengthening HCBS delivery system and expanding models of care

Spending Plans and Narratives

Below are links to access the documents related to Delaware’s HCBS Spending Plans and narrative submissions to CMS, along with the corresponding CMS approvals. 

2021

• Delaware October 2021 Quarterly Update (FFY 2022 Q2) HCBS Spending Plan Narrative 
  • CMS  Initial Approval HCBS Spending Plan 12-08-2021
• Delaware’s Initial HCBS Spending Plan July 12, 2021 (FFY 2022 Q1)

• CMS guidance and CMS-issued public notices
• CMS index of all states’ HCBS Spending Plans, narratives and CMS approvals

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

DMMA welcomes community feedback on ways to enhance, expand, and strengthen Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) and certain behavioral health services through one-time and time-limited investments. This section will continue to be updated with notices, meeting information, and documents related to community input.

DMMA encourages community members to submit questions and comments directly to MedicaidInfo@delaware.gov.

Submitted Stakeholder Feedback

Ability Network of Delaware

Chimes International Ltd.

National Association for Homecare and Hospice

The Caregiving Years Training Academy

KenCrest of Delaware

LeadingAge New Jersey & Delaware

State Council for Persons with Disabilities

Autism Delaware

Listening Sessions 

To support development of this HCBS spending plan, DMMA has periodically held open public listening sessions to solicit community feedback.
 
Materials shared during previous public listening sessions can be accessed by clicking on the links below:

• March 31 and April 5, 2022: American Rescue Plan Act HCBS Spending Plan
  Public Forum – Behavioral Health Focus 
• January 11, 2022: American Rescue Plan Act HCBS Spending Plan Public Forum 
• August 19, 20 and 25, 2021: DMMA Rescue Plan FMAP Stakeholder Session
• June 23 and 25, 2021: American Rescue Act HCBS Increased Match Spending Plan Listening Session

Public Notices

DMMA will any post public notices related to the HCBS Spending Plan below:

• March 8, 2022 Update from DMMA Director Groff: American Rescue Plan (ARP) HCBS Spending Plan Update 03-08-2022
• October 5, 2022 Update from DMMa Director Groff: American Rescue Plan (ARP) HCBS Spending Plan Update 10-05-2022