Helping People with Long-Term Health Care Needs: Improving Access to Home- and Community-Based Services in Medicaid

Most people who need long-term help would prefer to receive care in the community, rather than having to move to a nursing home. However, Medicaid, is structured to favor institutional care over home and community care. While community-based services can be cost effective in the long run, developing them requires a costly initial investment from states. Review the benefits of health reform that give states incentives to establish programs to expand home- and community-based services in Medicaid.