The Affordable Care Act and Community Living

The Affordable Care Act is helping seniors and people with disabilities get the supports and services they need to live in their homes and fully participate in their communities, rather than in nursing homes or other institutions.

The new law is providing choices and options to support community living so seniors and people with disabilities don’t have to choose between living in their homes and getting the services and supports they need. Creative solutions are now rolling out in States across the country

As a new report highlights, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, 12 additional States have joined the Money Follows the Person Program to help older Americans and individuals with disabilities transition back to their communities from long-term care institutions.  Eight States are participating in the new Balancing Incentives Program, which gives States new incentives to make home and community-based services more accessible to older Americans and people with disabilities.  Forty- seven community-based organizations are partnering with hospitals around the country through the new Community-Based Care Transition Program to help Medicare beneficiaries as they leave the hospital so they can successfully transition back to their home or the setting that best suits their needs.  And, just last week, California became the first State Community First Choice State, a program which gives States an increase in their federal Medicaid matching rate for providing community-based attendant services and supports as an alternative to nursing home care.

To continue to build on this important work, today, Secretary Sebelius announced $12.5 million in awards to Aging and Disability Resource Centers across the country. These Centers provide expert counselors to help older Americans and people with disabilities and their family members understand the services and supports that are available to them in their communities, and help them sign up and access those critical services and remain independent.

These grants are just a part of our efforts to help people get the services they need and remain independent. You can learn more about our work by reading Affordable Care Act Supports Community Living.