Uncertainty in HCBS Webinar (7/16/26) Recording and Slides

On 7/16/2026, DPC and Breslin Health Consulting hosted a national webinar titled “Uncertainty in Medicaid-Funded Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Impacting the Lives of Full-Benefit Dually Eligible Individuals.” The session discussed potential state and advocacy responses to the shifting HCBS environment. The discussion will focus on actions that states can take to leverage the potential of D-SNPs to mitigate the harm of HCBS cuts on dually eligible persons with disabilities and older adults and protect their civil rights and community living rights under the ADA and Olmstead.

Presenters Dennis Heaphy, DMin, MPH, MEd, MDiv (Lead Researcher, Disability Policy Consortium) and Ellen Breslin, MPP (Founder, Breslin Health Consulting) drew upon their recent HCBS publications in Health Affairs to provide recommendations for states.

Panelists Melanie Bella, MBA (First Director of the Medicare-Medicaid Coordination Office, CMS), Edward Mitchell, MBA (Executive Director, Statewide Independent Living Center of Tennessee) and Dr. Robert Master (Advisor/Founder of Commonwealth Care Alliance (CCA)) discussed the implications of this work and impacts of HCBS cuts on people and offer strategies to align and leverage the Medicaid and Medicare programs.

Resources:

• Webinar Recording (YouTube)

• Presentation Slides (PDF)

• “An Agenda For CMS: Strengthen Integrated Care Programs For Dually Eligible Adults With Behavioral Health Needs” (Health Affairs article, 4/20/26)

• “How States Can Mitigate The Harm Of HCBS Cuts” (Health Affairs article, 9/22/25)

• “Expanding Home- And Community-Based Services For Dually Eligible Adults With Behavioral Health Needs” (Health Affairs article, 4/4/25)

Please reach out to Harry, Dennis, or Ellen with any questions.

Harry Weissman, Executive Director, DPC: hweissman@dpcma.org

Dennis Heaphy, Lead Researcher, DPC: dheaphy@dpcma.org

Ellen Breslin, Breslin Health Consulting: ellen@breslinhealth.com