An overview of recent state HCBS budget cuts

This policy brief, covering the period FY 2002- FY 2004, examines state budget cuts and other state policy changes affecting long term care (LTC) services for the elderly, focusing on home and community based services (HCBS). In the second year of budget deficits, states made deeper Medicaid cuts and focused on LTC services because of their contribution to Medicaid budgets (fifteen states say LTC is one of the top three Medicaid spending drivers). In all, states made or planned an estimated 64 cuts to LTC services in the last three fiscal years. Reflecting overall budget-cutting strategies, many states first targeted LTC provider payments and have only more recently considered reducing LTC benefits or eligibility.