Helping Communities with Better Support Act

This bill aims to make it easier for people with disabilities to get help at home, and to make state Medicaid waitlists more open to the public. It lets states, with federal approval, cover certain home and community-based services for some people with disabilities even if they have not been found to need nursing home–level care—so long as doing so doesn’t slow down services for those already approved. States must estimate how many people they’ll serve, explain how services might differ, and coverage still can’t include room and board . The bill also orders the release of clear, statewide data: how waitlists are managed, whether people are screened and re-screened, average wait times, how long it takes to start services after approval, and what share of approved service hours are actually delivered. This information must be posted on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services website starting January 1, 2028 .

To speed up help, the bill directs federal health officials to tell states how to give up to 60 days of temporary services under an “interim” care plan while the full plan is finalized. This guidance must be issued by January 1, 2026 .

Key points

• Who is affected: People with disabilities seeking in-home help; families and caregivers; state Medicaid programs .
• What changes: States may cover home and community services for some people sooner; room and board are not covered; states must publish waitlist and service data; temporary services allowed for up to 60 days while final plans are completed .
• When: Interim-coverage guidance due by January 1, 2026; public reporting starts January 1, 2028 .