Health, Housing & Older AdultsState and Federal Policy and Opportunities

Meghan D. Masera, Esq. Director of Policy, Housing and HCBS

What’s New in Housing Plus Services Policy

SJR 11: Housing With Services Resolution

Duals Demonstration: Cal MediConnect

Section 202 Rental Assistance Demonstration

SJR 11 - Housing with Services Resolution• Calls on Congress to

support housing with services models

• Supports collaboration between HUD and CMS

• Encourages reduction of silos and sharing of cost savings

• Will integrate delivery of medical, behavioral, and long-term care services

• Three-Year Demonstration in eight counties

• Managed Medi-Cal Long Term Supports and Services

Coordinated Care Initiative: Cal MediConnect

Section 202 Rental Assistance Demonstration• Rental assistance only• Funding layered on existing

buildings• Approximately $40 million

available• Operated in accordance with and

determined by state healthcare priorities

Policy Opportunities

• SB 391: Permanent funding source for affordable housing

• AB 1929: Further development of permanent supportive housing for homeless with mental illness by authorizing counties to deposit Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) funds with CalHFA.

California Policy Opportunities

Federal Policy Opportunities

• S. 1562 and H.R. 4122: Renew and improve the Older Americans Act

• Amend DSS licensing provisions to allow for an expansion of unlicensed independent long-term care.

• Support provisions of the ACA to expand Medicaid coverage of home- and community-based services.

• Support increased funding to Social Services Block Grants

Policy Ideas

• Expand the 202 Demonstration Program• Reinstate 202 funding for the development of new

affordable housing units• Renew and expand service coordinator grants• Comprehensive interagency policy strategy from HUD and

DHHS• Utilize realized health care cost savings from housing plus

services models for funding of new affordable housing

Policy Ideas

• Continue to build and improve partnerships between housing providers and healthcare providers in your community.

In the meantime…

Contact

Meghan Maserammasera@aging.org

(916) 469-3372