# Plain Language Summary: Emergency Medicaid Funding for Home and Community-Based Services

This bill would send emergency federal money to state Medicaid programs specifically to pay for home and community-based services. In simpler terms, it's about getting more funding to help people receive care in their homes and communities rather than in institutions like nursing homes or hospitals.

Home and community-based services include things like help with daily activities (bathing, dressing, meals), physical therapy, mental health counseling, and other support that allows people to live independently or semi-independently in their own homes or local communities. This is typically cheaper than institutional care and is often what people prefer—most folks would rather receive help at home than move to a facility.

The bill treats this as an emergency situation, which means Congress is saying this funding is urgent and necessary right now. States would receive this extra federal money to expand or maintain these services for people who qualify for Medicaid. This could help reduce waiting lists for services, allow more people to access care, or help states cover the costs they're currently struggling to pay for. The practical effect would be that more elderly people, people with disabilities, and others who need support could potentially get services faster or have access to better care options in their communities.

To provide for an emergency increase in Federal funding to State Medicaid programs for expenditures on home and community-based services.

Dingell, Debbie

This bill temporarily increases the applicable Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (i.e., federal matching rate) under Medicaid for certain approved home- and community-based services that are provided during FY2026-FY2027.As a condition for receiving the increased rate, a state must agree to undertake activities to improve the delivery of such services, such as by providing additional benefits to home health workers and by helping individuals who were relocated to nursing facilities move back to their homes.