Accelerator Will Help Implement Innovative Housing-related Supports and Services for Medicaid Recipients
|
On Friday, February 9, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced the communities that will be involved in their new initiative, “Housing and Services Partnership Accelerator” (Accelerator). Eight states and the District of Columbia were awarded this twelve-month, intensive technical assistance opportunity that will help develop and expand partnerships and systems to implement innovative housing-related supports and services for Medicaid recipients, such as housing search coordination, six months of rent, move-in assistance and costs, and tenancy sustaining supports. PHAs in these states should reach out to their State Medicaid offices to ensure they know the PHA is interested in partnering with them as they build their infrastructure for housing and health innovations. If your PHA was involved in your state’s Accelerator application, please let us know by emailing Camille Anoll-Hunter at canoll@clpha.org. The awardees—Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, and Washington—have all been approved for Medicaid 1115 innovation waivers focused on health-related social needs or offer health-related social needs supports through their Home and Community Based Services State Plan (1915(i)). These Medicaid programs focus on meeting the needs of Medicaid recipients with complex health needs who are experiencing or at-risk of homelessness. This includes people with disabilities, older adults, people with mental health disorders, people with substance use disorders, and people with other chronic medical conditions. CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative is working with the Accelerator to build connections between the awardee Medicaid programs and public housing authorities. We are continuing to advocate for HUD and HHS to expand the Accelerator program to more states with health-related social needs benefits.
|