Washington’s FCS program showing positive changes, according to latest RDA analyses

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Washington’s FCS program showing positive changes, according to latest RDA analyses

In July 2021, the Research and Data Analysis (RDA) Division of the Department of Social and Health Services released their second evaluation of the Foundational Community Supports (FCS) program. The analyses cover the first 18 months of FCS implementation, from January 2018 through June 2019.

RDA shared their initial FCS preliminary report in February 2020. While findings from both evaluations are promising, RDA is not the federally-approved evaluator of the Medicaid Transformation Project. These results do not supplant the evaluation results produced by the independent external evaluator for the Medicaid Transformation Project (i.e., Oregon Health Sciences University).

What is FCS?

FCS, also known as Initiative 3 of the Medicaid Transformation Project (MTP), assists the state’s most vulnerable people find and keep stable housing and employment. FCS consists of two services: supportive housing and supported employment.

What are the report’s key findings?

Supported employment

  • Increases in the percentage of clients employed in at least one job between the six-month pre- and post-period.
  • Increased earnings and average hours worked for HCA clients.
  • No significant impacts on emergency department outpatient (ED) or inpatient hospitalizations.

Supportive housing

  • Significant positive impacts on transitions out of homelessness for HCA clients in the six months following enrollment in FCS supportive housing services.
  • More HCA clients housed in housing projects funded by the Washington State Department of Commerce.
  • More Aging and Long-Term Service Administration (ALTSA) clients accessing in-home personal care services, such as help with chores, meal preparation, bathing, and other activities of daily living.
  • No significant impacts on ED utilization.
  • No significant impact on community residential placement rates for ALTSA clients. Community residential placements include placements in adult family homes or residential care, assisted living, or enhanced service facilities.
  • Significant higher inpatient hospitalization and nursing facility placement rates for ALTSA clients.

View the slide deck for more details.

The interim report from Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) is also available. As the independent external evaluator for MTP, OHSU assess the impacts on and overall performance of MTP and its five initiatives, including FCS.

For more information