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ATTENTION Please be aware that federal funding related to the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) will expire on March 31st, 2025. The Wyoming Department of Health used a portion of the ARPA funds to temporarily increase provider and case manager reimbursement rates. This temporary rate increase will be extended through June 30th, 2025 and on July 1, 2025, will be decreased by the amount that was originally attributable to the ARPA increase. All other ARPA related projects are currently set to expire on March 31st, 2025. |
What is ARPA?
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) was signed into law by President Biden on March 11, 2021 and provides additional Federal relief to address the continued impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the economy, public health, state and local governments, individuals, and businesses. It is intended, in part, to support states in enhancing services for individuals who are eligible for long-term care and home and community-based services (HCBS), including participants of the Comprehensive, Supports, and Community Choices Waiver programs.
Section 9817 of ARPA addresses additional support provided to Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS). The law includes a provision to increase the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for Medicaid HCBS by 10% from April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022. According to this Section, in order to be eligible to receive the increase, the State must use the Federal funds to supplement, and not supplant, the level of State funds expended for HCBS programs in effect as of April 1, 2021. Additionally, the State must implement, or supplement the implementation of, one or more activities to enhance, expand, or strengthen HCBS under the State Medicaid program.
On May 13, 2021, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued guidance in State Medicaid Director Letter (SMD) #21-003 detailing further federal requirements for states to access the enhanced federal funding. As a part of this guidance, states are required to submit to CMS a spending plan and narrative that details a proposed approach to leveraging this federal funding.
Spending Plans and Narratives
Following CMS guidance, the Division must develop and submit an initial spending plan and narrative that describes the activities the Division intends to implement, the expected cost of each activity, and the overall estimated funds attributable to the increase in the FMAP that the Division anticipates claiming between April 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022. Subsequent spending plans must be submitted quarterly, and spending narratives must be submitted semi-annually. Below are the spending plans and spending narratives submitted by the Division. To review spending plans submitted by other states, please visit the CMS website.
Approval of FFY 2025 Quarter 1 Update – Granted September 30, 2024
Spending Plan and Narrative Submissions
Initial Spending Plan and Narrative – Submitted to CMS September 3, 2021
FFY 2022 Quarter 2 Update – Submitted October 27, 2021
FFY 2022 Quarter 3 Update – Submitted January 14, 2022
FFY 2022 Quarter 4 Update – Submitted April 15, 2022
FFY 2023 Quarter 1 Update – Resubmitted September 8, 2022
FFY 2023 Quarter 2 Update – Submitted October 10, 2022
FFY 2023 Quarter 3 Update – Submitted January 17, 2023
FFY 2023 Quarter 4 Update – Resubmitted April 14, 2023
FFY 2024 Quarter 1 Update – Submitted July 17, 2023
FFY 2024 Quarter 2 Update – Submitted October 18, 2023
FFY 2024 Quarter 3 Update – Submitted January 17, 2024
FFY 2024 Quarter 4 Update – Submitted April 17, 2024
Technology Innovation Grant
The Wyoming Department of Health, Division of Healthcare Financing (Division) is implementing a Technology Innovation Grant program for providers of Comprehensive, Supports, and Community Choices Waiver programs. This program is an initiative identified as part of the enhanced funding made available to the State of Wyoming through Section 9817 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA).
Background Information
During the height of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), many providers of home and community-based services (HCBS) used assistive and virtual technologies to connect with participants, monitor their well-being, and decrease their feelings of isolation and anxiety. Additionally, providers used these technologies to ensure staff members had necessary training, up-to-date communication, and access to resources and support.
HCBS providers continue to face critical staffing shortages that could jeopardize participant access to needed services in their communities. This concern, in conjunction with the Wyoming Department of Health’s commitment to ensuring that participants receive services in the least restrictive environment, has reinforced the need for a mechanism to fund technology projects that support providers in responding to participant and organizational needs.
Grant Overview
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites interested Comprehensive, Supports, and Community Choices Waiver providers to apply for grants to implement innovative programs that use technology to enhance, expand, or strengthen their HCBS programs. A total of $3,000,000 has been earmarked for this activity. The Division will award grants of up to $100,000 each.
Applications will be reviewed and scored by an advisory panel. Award recipients will be selected based on the applicant’s success with demonstrating how the proposed project meets the goals and purpose of the grant. Final award amounts and the number of awards granted will be subject to the HCBS Section Administrator’s discretion.
Grant Cycles
The Division will administer grants on a semi-annual cycle, until all funding for this activity has been awarded.
- April 1, 2023 – June 30, 2023 – Application Due by 5:00 PM April 30, 2023
- October 1, 2023 – December 31, 2023 – Application Due by 5:00PM October 31, 2023
- April 1, 2024 – June 30, 2024 – Application Due by 5:00PM April 30, 2024
Past Public Input Opportunities
Public input opportunity to offer initial ideas on how to best utilize the temporary influx of federal funding for the long-term benefit of these programs.
- Wednesday, April 7, 2021, 1:00PM – 2:00PM – Providers and Case Managers
- Wednesday, April 7, 2021, 3:00PM – 4:00PM – Participants and Other Stakeholders
- Thursday, April 8, 2021, 6:00PM – 7:00PM – Interested Stakeholders
- No comments were recorded
- Thursday, July 29, 2021, 2:00PM – 3:30PM – Interested Stakeholders
- Friday, August 6, 2021, 10:00AM – 11:30AM – Interested Stakeholders
- Recorded Presentation / No comments were recorded in Chat Box
- Monday, August 8, 2022, 1:00PM – 2:30PM – Participants, Providers, Case Managers, and Other Stakeholders
- November 1 – December 15, 2022 – Technology Innovation Grants
- Requested provider feedback on draft Funding Opportunity Announcement