The Aging & Disability Health Policy Lab has released a grant application to improve access to health care and home and community-based services (HCBS) for older adults and people with disabilities. 

The Lab is offering grant funds (up to $75,000 per grantee for a 12-month period) for qualified organizations working within one or more states to engage in nonpartisan activities related to specific policy priorities, including:

• Simplifying access to the Medicare Savings Programs.
• Limiting government seizure of private property by reforming Medicaid estate recovery and ABLE account Medicaid payback.
• Simplifying Medicaid eligibility and enrollment processes for older adults and people with disabilities by:
  • Improving eligibility and enrollment processes for people eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) including those who are “deemed SSI” (e.g. disabled adult children (DACs), widowers, working adults with disabilities and others in the SSI continuation groups), especially in states without a 1634 agreement.
  • Fixing the Part A buy-in process for people without premium-free Part A in states without a Part A buy-in agreement.
  • Taking other steps to reduce barriers to Medicaid eligibility and enrollment for older adults and people with disabilities.

The goal of these grants is to advance state-level policy change through stakeholder engagement, data and policy analysis, policy development, education activities, and other related efforts. 

This funding opportunity is for organizations with demonstrated experience in advocating at the state level to improve access to health care and/or HCBS, reduce poverty, and/or improve the health and well-being of older adults and/or people with disabilities.

Grant applications for this opportunity are due on Friday, September 4th, 2026.