Health and Welfare in HCBS

Speakers from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), HHS Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, HHS’ Office on Civil Rights (HHS-OCR) and Administration for Community Living will present findings and model practices that were published in early 2018 in the joint OIG-ACL-OCR report entitled, “Ensuring Beneficiary Health & Safety in Group Homes” as well as GAO’s recent inquiry entitled, “Improved Federal Oversight of Beneficiary Health & Welfare is Needed.” Recommendations/actions implemented by CMS as a result of these inquiries will also be reviewed, and effective strategies that states have deployed to both implement recommendations outlined in the reports and other efforts to promote greater self-determination and community integration will be highlighted. Additionally, policy recommendations for preserving the well-being of beneficiaries and improving quality of HCBS over time based upon feedback from various stakeholders will be discussed, as well as the unique roles that ACL’s funded networks can play in this work will also be explored.