Virtual Panel: How States Can Use ARPA Funding to Support HCBS Technology Needs

The NORC MCO Learning Hub, with support from the MolinaCares Accord, recently hosted a webinar on integrated care models for dually eligible individuals. This is the third webinar in a six-part quarterly series highlighting innovations in Medicaid. Slides from the panel presentation can be viewed here.

With funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021, states have an opportunity to invest in Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS) to improve service delivery for complex populations. While states have submitted their proposed HCBS spending plans to CMS, in many instances, states continue to refine the details of these plans and their associated investments. One area where states can deploy the one-time ARPA funds is by investing in technology to aggregate information sources for more efficient data sharing across the ecosystem. This would improve care coordination, health outcomes and bend the cost curve for Medicaid members receiving HCBS. Successful state development and implementation of new technology and the accompanying data infrastructure requires strong collaboration with numerous stakeholders. Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) are key stakeholders and should consider how to best support state efforts to improve member outcomes through data infrastructure strategies.

Our panel was facilitated by Tom Betlach (Speire Healthcare Strategies) and featured Allison Rizer (ATI Advisory), Damon Terzaghi (ADvancing States) and Michelle Bentzien-Purrington (Molina Healthcare). The speakers discussed how states can think strategically about using ARPA funds for technology investments that benefit HCBS beneficiaries and how MCOs can support states to design and implement this strategy.