A press release today from the US Department of Health and Human Services touts a new regulation “strengthens community living options for for older Americans and people with disabilities”.

This comes as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) “issued a final rule today to ensure that Medicaid’s home and community-based services programs provide full access to the benefits of community living and offer services in the most integrated settings”, part of the Affordable Care Act, supporting HHS’s Community Living Initiative.

According to HHS, “Under the final rule, Medicaid programs will support home and community-based settings that serve as an alternative to institutional care and that take into account the quality of individuals’ experiences.” (hyperlink added)

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said “Today’s announcement will help ensure that all people participating in Medicaid home and community-based services programs have full access to the benefits of community living.”  Hopefully she is right.