Number: RS22448
Title: Medicaid's Home and Community-Based Services State Plan Option: Section 6086 of the Deficit Reduction Act
Authors: Cliff Binder, Domestic Social Policy Division 
Abstract: Section 6086 of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, (DRA, P.L. 109-171), established a optional Medicaid benefit giving states a new method with which to cover home- and community-based (HCBS) services for Medicaid beneficiaries, starting in January 2007. Prior to DRA's enactment, states needed HCBS waivers authorized in Section 1915(c) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to cover these services. The HCBSstate plan optional benefit, Section 1915(i), differs from both existing Medicaid state plan benefits and Section 1915(c) waivers. This report outlines requirements of the new 1915(i) benefit and compares key features of this benefit with other Medicaid state plan benefits and 1915(c) waivers.
Pages: 6
Date: January 31, 2008