The Consumer Voice was proud to submit comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on Thursday, February 21st, in opposition to proposed regulations that would allow states to require co-payments for Medicaid beneficiaries receiving home and community-based services (HCBS). In our comments, the Consumer Voice expressed concern that out-of-pocket costs in the form of co-payments or premiums would discourage or prevent Medicaid beneficiaries from receiving ongoing needed care in their communities. Reducing consumer access to HCBS would likely result in worse health outcomes and greater costs to the health care system. Furthermore, enacting a Medicaid co-payment for home and community based-services could potentially compel consumers to choose between basic living necessities or needed care. It could also force greater numbers of consumers into nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. To read our comments to CMS, click here. Additionally, we would like to thank the members of our network who also took time to submit comments on this important matter, as well as the National Senior Citizens Law Center (NSCLC) for spearheading this effort. You can read NSCLC’s comments on the proposed regulations here.