Understanding the Impacts of COVID Policy Changes on Access to Needed Supports for Families With Children Receiving Medicaid HCBS Waiver Services

Abstract

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated rapid policy changes to address new demands on disability service systems. A statewide survey of families of people who received Medicaid funded home- and community-based (HCBS) long-term services and supports (LTSS) in one Midwestern state was conducted to understand (1) utilization of services allowed under the policy change, (2) family’s experiences if their family member with a disability accessed the services, and (3) family’s perspectives on the need for ongoing changes in the future. Overall, the results suggest that a subset of families took advantage of flexibilities introduced into service delivery models during the pandemic, and the changes—when accessed—addressed important needs that a large majority of families that accessed the services hoped would be sustained in the future.