New Housing Resources to Support Olmstead Implementation

Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services
CMCS Informational Bulletin
DATE: June 18, 2012
FROM: Cindy Mann, Director
   Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMCS)
SUBJECT:  New Housing Resources to Support Olmstead Implementation
For more than a decade, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has been
partnering with States to use Medicaid funding and services to develop comprehensive long-term
services and supports systems that are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA) and the historic June 22, 1999 Olmstead vs L.C. U.S. Supreme Court decision
(Olmstead), which requires States to administer programs in the most integrated setting
appropriate to the needs of qualified individuals with disabilities.  CMS also recognizes the
critical role of the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) in providing the
housing support individuals need to help them remain in the community.  At the federal level, the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and HUD have been working together to
forge a strong collaboration in support of achieving the promise of the Olmstead decision.  This
Informational Bulletin provides a description of recent HUD actions, policies and resources that
are available as States develop strategies to balance their long-term services and supports
systems.
As States continue to implement the Olmstead decision and reform and rebalance their long-term
care systems, establishing and maintaining relationships with the housing community and
leveraging the many housing opportunities available through HUD and State housing finance
agencies will be critical to States’ success.   Many States have had success in using Money
Follows the Person administrative funding to support staff who can focus on leveraging the
housing resources in a State.  And housing agencies may be increasingly receptive to forging
partnerships with State Medicaid agencies as their future funding opportunities may depend on
having such relationships.  As discussed below, HUD recently provided a funding opportunity
for rental assistance for very low-income individuals who require housing finance agency
applicants to create a partnership with the State Medicaid program.  We hope the information
provided here will be useful to State Medicaid programs as they continue to improve access to
home and community-based services for people with disabilities.
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