Vermont AHS awards $17.6 million in grants to enhance Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services

Vermont Business Magazine Utilizing funding made available through Section 9817 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the Agency of Human Services (AHS) awarded over $17.6 million in grants Worth $17.6 million to support Vermont’s system of care for individuals and families who use Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS). Under the HCBS Grant Opportunity, 45 grants were awarded to HCBS providers, community-based organizations, and other entities that support the HCBS landscape in Vermont.

See list of recipients below.

“We are thrilled to make these investments in Vermont’s home and community-based services system of care,” said AHS Secretary Jenney Samuelson. “These grants will strengthen our health care workforce, update aging buildings, and enhance and expand vital services for our fellow Vermonters.”

HCBS includes medical and non-medical services that are provided in a home or community-based setting rather than an institutional setting. A variety of populations, including people of all ages with intellectual or developmental disabilities, physical disabilities, mental health conditions, or substance use treatment needs receive HCBS to assist with daily living. To bolster the quality, accessibility, and sustainability of Vermont’s HCBS system of care, grants were awarded across four tracks:

• Infrastructure Improvement: funding to upgrade existing facilities through building improvements, including environmental health and safety upgrades.
• Workforce Development: funding to support the recruitment, retention, and professional development of the HCBS workforce.
• Care Model Innovation Pilots: funding to pilot innovative approaches to delivering HCBS to address health-related social needs, health equity, health and wellness, and care integration.
• Organizational Performance Improvement and Compliance: funding to improve provider workflows and processes, ensure compliance with state and federal requirements, and enhance the quality of care.

"Home Health & Hospice cares for people in our community wherever they call home, and we must be able to respond to their evolving needs in innovative ways. The Home- and Community-Based Services Workforce Development and Care Model Innovation grants provide crucial financial support for training, educating, and mentoring our caregivers, and will help grow our teams," said Christine Werneke, President and COO of UVM Health Network – Home Health & Hospice. "These grant awards are having an immediate impact as we expand a care program for community members who have health-related social needs and are at risk of experiencing adverse health outcomes. We are grateful to the Agency of Human Services for this tremendous opportunity as we position ourselves to meet the needs of our neighbors, now and in the future." 

“I am thrilled about the numerous opportunities the HCBS grant has provided United Counseling Service. Staff across the agency will benefit in so many ways as we further our professional development opportunities, boost our diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, enhance recruitment efforts and more. These funds are allowing us to strengthen our staff which ultimately results in enabling us to enhance the quality of the care we provide,” said Danielle Gallen, Director of Human Resources at United Counseling Service of Bennington County. 

"These grant opportunities really give us excitement and confidence for our future as we continue to build program capacity. Adult Day staff use such a unique complement of clinical, social and emotional skills every day; we plan to invest in tools and in-house training that is specific to the diverse needs of our participants so staff can feel confident and supported in the care they provide. And the investments we will make in building improvements and upgrades will not only enhance participant experience, but ensure our aging building is safe, accessible and sustainable for years to come," said Heather Robertson, Executive Director of The Gathering Place.

“We are grateful for the Agency of Human Services Home and Community-Based Services grant to Vermont’s five Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs). The grant will allow AAAs to achieve National Committee for Quality Assurance accreditation, the nation’s highest standards of Case Management for community-based organizations that coordinate long-term services and support for older and disabled Vermonters,” said Mary Hayden, Executive Director of the Vermont Association of Area Agencies on Aging. “Vermont’s AAAs provide case management services to over 7000 older and disabled Vermonters. As Vermont’s aging population increases, NCQA accreditation will provide a statewide framework for Vermont’s AAAs to serve more participants and their families while delivering high-quality services that meet the needs of people so they can live in the setting of their choice.”

For more information about the Vermont HCBS Grant Opportunity, visit humanservices.vermont.gov/HCBSGrantOpportunities.  

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Source: May 8, 2024. Waterbury, Vt. – Agency of Human Services. humanservices.vermont.gov

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