Joe Biden has proposed a landmark $400 billion expansion of funding for home and community-based services (HCBS), the part of Medicaid that funds support services for older adults and people with disabilities living at home rather than in institutions. But with Congress fighting over which of Biden's priorities to cut to appease moderate Democrats, that proposal could be in peril.

Mia Ives-Rublee is a longtime disability rights activist who helped organize the Women's March in 2017 and now serves as director of the Disability Justice Initiative at the Center for American Progress. She spoke with Vox's Dylan Matthews about how HCBS works now, and how Democrats' plans for additional funding would change it.

References:


Biden’s home-based care plan, explained

Polling suggests funding for home care is quite popular

"How Could $400 Billion New Federal Dollars Change Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services?"


The House Energy and Commerce Committee proposal on HCBS

Better Care Better Jobs Act state-by-state fact sheet

The Urban Institute's report on strengthening long-term care services

Investing in Home Care and Early Childhood Educators Has Outsize Impacts on Employment


Hosts:
Dylan Matthews (@dylanmatt), senior correspondent, Vox

Credits:
Sofi LaLonde, producer & engineer
Libby Nelson, editorial adviser
Amber Hall, deputy editorial director of talk podcasts

Sign up for The Weeds newsletter each Friday: vox.com/weedsletter  

Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices