Columbia News

U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt has introduced the Helping Communities with Better Support (HBCS) Act, aiming to expand home and community-based services for individuals with developmental disabilities. The legislation is designed to enhance support for Americans with disabilities and their caregivers.

Senator Schmitt emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, "As we continue to drive our nation into the Golden Age of America it is crucial we advocate for the most vulnerable in our society, including Americans with disabilities who often need levels of care and support beyond what their families are able to provide. Expanding access to these critical home and community-based services will help support those with disabilities and those who care for them, and I’m proud to lead this effort in the Senate."

The bill proposes several key measures:

- It allows states the option to expand home and community-based services (HCBS) without negatively affecting current beneficiaries.

- The legislation directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to permit states to offer up to 60 days of interim HCBS for newly eligible individuals during their onboarding process.

- States seeking expanded HCBS waivers must demonstrate that new populations will not increase wait times for existing eligible individuals. They must also provide estimates and service comparisons to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

- To improve transparency, states are required to report detailed data on waitlists, service delays, and actual care hours delivered. This information will be publicly available by 2028 through the CMS website.

Further details about the bill can be accessed through its full text.