In a response to the recent White House announcement, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, extolled the American Rescue Plan Act’s investments in home and community-based services (HCBS), now totaling $37 billion.
“After three years, it is clear that the American Rescue Plan’s investment in home and community-based services has been a success,” stated Senator Casey. The temporary funding increase provided by the law has enabled tens of thousands of Americans to receive home care, thereby reducing waitlists, enhancing care options, and raising wages for direct care workers.
However, Senator Casey warned of potential loss of these gains if actions are not taken to make these temporary investments permanent. He has introduced several bills, including the Better Care, Better Jobs Act and the HCBS Relief Act, with the aim of ensuring long-term, sustained investment in caregiving. These initiatives would guarantee that older adults and people with disabilities can receive necessary care within their own communities.
The White House unveiled new data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) showing the positive impact of the American Rescue Plan. The plan has delivered approximately $37 billion in support across all 50 states for activities and investments that enhance, expand, and strengthen HCBS programs.
All 50 states have utilized this additional funding, with the majority of it aiding providers in retaining, recruiting, and training care workers, and offering bonuses and pay raises to care workers.
Key Care Worker Registries, a result of the historic Executive Order To Support the Care Economy, and the White House Convening on the American Rescue Plan’s Major Investment in Home & Community-Based Care were also announced. The convening will feature speakers including HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, Senator Bob Casey, Governors Josh Shapiro (PA), Janet Mills (ME), and Jared Polis (CO), among others.
New CMS data illustrates how all 50 states are leveraging American Rescue Plan support to expand and strengthen home and community-based services. In total, states have committed about $37 billion in American Rescue Plan funding. All 50 states are investing over $25 billion to help retain, expand, and train their direct care workforces – funding worker retention, recruitment, training, and other efforts to keep providers staffed to improve services for seniors and individuals with disabilities.
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