States Modify Medicaid Home- and Community-Based Waivers to Respond to COVID-19

This commentary includes some of the options available to states to ensure that individuals with complex medical conditions and their families have access to necessary home- and community-based services during the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis through waiver and state plan amendment applications.

Under new federal rules, states can now temporarily amend programs serving Medicaid enrollees using long-term services and supports through waiver and state plan amendment applications. For example, a Medicaid 1915(c) Appendix K waiver allows states to make temporary or emergency-specific changes to better address this public health crisis and protect its most vulnerable populations.