CMS Proposes New HCBS Quality Measures

WASHINGTON—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed a new set of quality measures for Medicaid home- and community-based services (HCBS), which would begin in 2028. 

The proposal was published in the Federal Register on April 28 and serves as 30-day notice for public comment. CMS said the effort to “is intended to promote more common and consistent use within and across states of nationally standard measures in HCBS programs … and drive improvement in quality of care and outcomes for people receiving HCBS.” 

CMS said in the proposal that the measures were launched in 2024 with a request for public comment and then passed to a work group. The current proposed version, called the 2028 HCBS Quality Measure Set, has 23 mandatory and two voluntary measures.  

The measures address a range of items including: 

• Choosing services that matter
• Physical safety
• Personal safety and respect
• Transportation to medical appointments 
• Social connectedness 
• Respect for personal space
• Person-centered goals 

The two proposed voluntary measures address a reassessment and plan update after inpatient discharge and fall prevention measures.