In January 2014, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a new rule that would impact Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Settings, with direct and significant implications for people receiving supports, human service providers, families, state agencies, and other stakeholders.
The HCBS Settings Rule provides guidance and requirements for human service providers that people receiving supports have full access to the benefits of community living, be integrated in their communities, exercise rights, make choices, select the services they use, and direct who provides those services.
This rule went into effect on March 17, 2014 with an original deadline of March 17, 2019 for entities to carry out the requirements and for states to demonstrate compliance. In May 2017, the compliance deadline was extended to March 17, 2022. Then in July 2020 the deadline was extended again to March 17, 2023.
