The CCC brought self-advocates who live in different forms of intentional communities from around the country to speak at the National HCBS Conference in Washington, DC. It is clear from their own words that intentional communities they call home should not be restricted or stigmatized as isolating them from the broader community.
The impact of this change cannot be understated. Homes of people who have disabilities stigmatized in the previous guidance were going to be unnecessarily scrutinized, an expensive process that could have instilled confusion, fear, and anxiety in residents. Now, people’s homes will not be forced by CMS to go under investigation and they can live without fear of removal from their home.
Every state must create an approved State Transition Plan by March 2019 which tells the federal government how they will change to comply with the new Medicaid Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) regulations. The places where people with disabilities use Medicaid HCBS waivers must also be compliant with these new regulations by March 2022. Learn more about what settings are at risk of losing Medicaid funding here.
