Attached please find the initial home and community-based services (HCBS) spending plan and narrative that outlines the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s use of funding available under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Section 9817.
As a state, Pennsylvania wishes to confirm the following assurances:
• The state is using the federal funds attributable to the increased federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) to supplement and not supplant existing state funds expended for Medicaid HCBS in effect as of April 1, 2021;
• The state is using the state funds equivalent to the amount of federal funds attributable to the increased FMAP to implement or supplement the implementation of one or more activities to enhance, expand, or strengthen HCBS under the Medicaid program;
• The state is not imposing stricter eligibility standards, methodologies, or procedures for HCBS programs and services than were in place on April 1, 2021;
• The state is preserving covered HCBS, including the services themselves and the amount, duration, and scope of those services, in effect as of April 1, 2021; and
• The state is maintaining HCBS provider payments at a rate no less than those in place as of April 1, 2021.
Once approved, Pennsylvania has designated a state point of contact, Michael Chmielewski, who will ensure that quarterly spending plans and narratives are provided along with any associated reporting.
