Tuesday, May 01, 2012

Community First Choice option regs released

The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released final regulations for the Community First Choice option (CFC). CFC, as authorized under the Affordable Care Act, increases the federal Medicaid match by 6 percent for home and community-based services that meet these new standards. CFC services are not offered through waivers, but rather are integrated as an option under the state Medicaid plan. Therefore they must be statewide and cannot have slot limits, unlike waivers.

Although the CFC rule is final, the revised definition of HCBS settings is not final. CMS will issue another proposed rule to solicit additional public comment on the revised definition of settings. Will assisted living facilities be considered an HCBS setting? CMS will issue another proposed rule on this and will solicit comments, we will keep you posted.

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