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
Spending Plans and Narratives
In accordance with 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, Please refer to this section to review the spending plans that have been submitted to CMS. To review spending plans submitted by other states, please visit the CMS website.
Conditional Approval of FFY 2023 Quarter 1 Update – Granted October 11, 2022
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
Technology Innovation Grant Information
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 such time as all funding for this activity has been awarded.
April 1, 2023 – June 30, 2023 – Application Due by 5:00 PM on April 30, 2023
October 1, 2023 – December 31, 2023 – Application Due by 5:00PM on October 31, 2023
April 1, 2024 – June 30, 2024 – Application Due by 5:00PM on April 30, 2024
October 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024 – Application Due by 5:00PM on October 31, 2024
Public Input Opportunities
The Division welcomes input from participants, providers, case managers, and other stakeholders of the Comprehensive, Supports, and Community Choices Waiver programs on how to best utilize this temporary influx of federal funding for the long-term benefit of these programs. Please visit this section for the updates on public meetings that will be held to obtain stakeholder feedback. Stakeholders may submit written feedback at any time to shirley.pratt@wyo.gov.
We need your help! The Division is working to translate several documents into Spanish in order to support our Spanish-speaking stakeholders. We are also seeking information on other translation needs that we can address. If you or someone you know would benefit from having Comprehensive, Supports, or Community Choices Waiver program documents translated to Braille or recorded audio, please provide the information through this linked form.
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