Medicaid Home- and Community-Based Services: Impact of the Affordable Care Act

State Medicaid programs are jointly funded by the federal and state governments. At 42% of total U.S. long-term care (LTC) expenditures, Medicaid plays a major role for individuals who meet state financial eligibility and needs-based criteria to qualify for Medicaid payment of these services (Hartman, Martin, McDonnell, Catlin, & National Health Expenditure Accounts Team, 2009). As the costs of LTC services have increased over time, Medicaid has become a critical resource for low-income individuals with disabilities.