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119-s-2076119th CongressWALLET
HCBS Relief Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]
Introduced
Summary
A temporary 10 percentage point boost to the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for home- and community-based services would send emergency federal funds to states for FY2026–FY2027 to expand care outside nursing facilities and strengthen the HCBS workforce.
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- States would be able to apply for the increase and, if approved, get a 10 percentage point FMAP bump for HCBS spending in fiscal years 2026 and 2027, with a cap of 95 percent. States must pledge to spend the funds by Sept. 30, 2029 and describe how they will use them.
- Home- and community-based services workers could see higher reimbursement rates and ensured pay increases, plus support for paid sick, family, and medical leave, hazard and overtime pay, recruitment, and training.
- People who need HCBS and their families could get help returning from nursing facilities, access services while on waiting lists, and receive funding for assistive technology, supplies, caregiver pay, and respite.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
More pay and services for HCBS
The bill would let States use the extra FMAP money for many HCBS supports. Examples include higher provider rates that must translate into higher pay for home health workers and direct support professionals, paid sick and family leave, hazard pay, PPE and worker travel, training, assistive technology, and caregiver pay or respite. States could also use funds to help people on HCBS waiting lists and to pay moving and start-up costs when people return from institutions. Continued services for people moved from waiting lists would last only while the FMAP-attributed funds are available.
State rules, reporting, and oversight
To get the FMAP boost, States would have to apply and give assurances. States would promise to spend the FMAP-attributed funds by September 30, 2029, to supplement (not supplant) current HCBS spending, and to raise rates to help recruit and keep workers. The Secretary would check an application for completeness within 90 days. States with approved plans would report to HHS by December 31, 2029 on activities, number served, and people who resumed HCBS. HHS would hire an external evaluator and oversee use of funds.
Temporary Medicaid match for HCBS
This bill would raise the federal Medicaid match for home and community-based services by 10 percentage points for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. The boost could not push any State's match above 95 percent. The bill would also say which services count as HCBS (for example, home health, behavioral health, personal care, PACE, certain 1915 and 1115 services). If enacted, these rules would increase the federal share of qualifying HCBS spending for participating States.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]
NM • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
VA • D
Sponsored 6/12/2025
Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]
NM • D
Sponsored 6/12/2025
Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA]
PA • D
Sponsored 6/12/2025
Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
OR • D
Sponsored 6/12/2025
Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
MA • D
Sponsored 6/12/2025
Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]
MN • D
Sponsored 6/12/2025
Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
MN • D
Sponsored 6/12/2025
Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
IL • D
Sponsored 6/12/2025
Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
NY • D
Sponsored 6/12/2025
Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
NJ • D
Sponsored 6/12/2025
Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
CT • D
Sponsored 6/12/2025
Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
RI • D
Sponsored 6/12/2025
Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT]
VT • D
Sponsored 6/12/2025
Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
WI • D
Sponsored 6/12/2025
Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
MD • D
Sponsored 6/12/2025
Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
OR • D
Sponsored 6/12/2025
Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
RI • D
Sponsored 7/9/2025
Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
DE • D
Sponsored 9/23/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov