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 About the HOME Project
Iowa Medicaid is redesigning its Community-Based Services (CBS) to improve how Medicaid members find Hope and Opportunity in Many Environments (HOME). Through HOME, Iowa Medicaid recognizes the hope that comes with being able to choose where you live and the services you receive that make maintaining health, social connection, and quality of life possible. The goal is to ensure that everyone has access to high-quality behavioral health, disability, and aging services in their communities.
This newsletter shares updates on the HOME project progress and highlights ways you can engage with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
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Over the last few months, the HOME Project team has made progress on key items.
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Posted amendments to current HCBS waivers for public comment to gather stakeholder input. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) required the public comment period, which ran for 30 days and closed on September 19. HHS is now reviewing comments before submitting the waiver amendments to CMS.
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Engaged in several activities to plan for future waiver redesign:
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Drafted proposed processes for:
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Releasing HOME waiver slots based on Waiver Priority Needs Assessment (WPNA) scores and time on the waitlist
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Deciding on reserved capacity slots
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Transitioning children to the adult waiver
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Refined HOME waiver applications to reflect these draft processes and align with the phased rollout of new waivers
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Identified system and operational impacts of the redesign, including IT changes to support transition planning
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Held a HOME Managed Care Organization (MCO) Services and Provider Workgroup meeting to review feedback on provider communications and to map out communication needs for each HOME implementation milestone
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Worked on other research and operational tasks to address member needs for CBS:
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Researched provider capacity strategies in Iowa and other states, and began drafting a provider capacity action plan
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Produced monthly Case Management Ratio Reports to monitor staffing and caseloads
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Reviewed findings from testing the first version of the Quality Management System dashboard and launched a 4-week pilot to test new quality improvement strategies to monitor and improve CBS.
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Meet Iowa's new Medicaid Director |
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Iowa Medicaid is excited to announce Lee Grossman as the state's new Medicaid Director. Lee officially stepped into his new role in early September. An Iowa native, Lee brings more than 14 years of experience from the Wyoming Department of Health, where he most recently served as Medicaid Director. Before taking on that role, he led Wyoming’s Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver programs serving people with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
Lee’s return to Iowa comes at a pivotal time for the Medicaid program. His deep knowledge of Medicaid and HCBS policy, steady leadership style, and strong commitment to improving access, especially in rural communities, make him a great fit to guide the team forward. His appointment followed a nationwide search and builds on recent internal efforts, including HOME, to strengthen the Medicaid team’s structure and lay the groundwork for long-term success.
“It’s an honor to return to the state where I grew up and contribute in such a meaningful way,” said Grossman. “I look forward to working with this team that’s deeply committed to helping thousands of Iowans live healthier lives in the community of their choice.”
Lee is already diving into the work and he’s looking forward to connecting with Iowans across the state!
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We couldn’t do this work without essential partnerships and contributions from people with lived experience.
Elaine Gartelos resides in Waterloo has called Iowa home her entire life. Her journey with Iowa’s Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) began with the Health and Disability Waiver, which opened doors to essential services like home and vehicle modifications and in-home caregiving. Elaine later transitioned to the Elderly Waiver.
Elaine joined the HOME Steering Committee at its launch in 2022, driven by a deep understanding of both the strengths and limitations of the current waiver system. Her advocacy centers on a simple but powerful idea: services should be tailored to the individual. She believes that designing HCBS waivers with flexibility and person-centered care in mind can lead to better health outcomes and a higher quality of life.
Elaine’s commitment to HOME goes beyond meetings. She’s generously volunteered her time to support the project in other ways, including being featured in a short video to help raise awareness and share her story. Her willingness to step up and contribute wherever needed reflects her deep dedication to the mission.
Beyond her work with HOME, Elaine is a creative spirit. She finds joy in writing, reading, cooking, and going to the movies. Her love for arts and crafts spans everything from painting and drawing to beadwork and needlework. Exploring her creativity is a big part of Elaine’s life, and it brings her joy.
Elaine’s voice on the HOME Steering Committee is grounded in lived experience, compassion, and a clear vision for a more responsive and inclusive system. Her contributions continue to shape the future of HCBS in Iowa, and we are grateful to partner with her in this work.
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Engage with us!
Visit the HOME webpage for more information and updates about the HOME project.
Check the Medicaid Town Hall webpage for a list of monthly Town Halls Medicaid members and providers can join and engage directly with the Iowa Medicaid state team.
Suggest 2025 focus topics in a quick survey for future Medicaid provider and member townhalls.
Share your comments, including requests for content you’d like to see, in a Feedback page about the Iowa HHS website.
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