Jessica Ross
Home and Community-Based Services Practice Lead
View Bio PageFulfilling the Vision of Inclusive and Accessible Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS)
Delivering on the promise of greater choice and community inclusion for people with disabilities and older adults is more important than ever. To achieve this vision, Mathematica collaborates with government agencies and community organizations to improve programs for older adults and those with behavioral health needs or intellectual, developmental, or physical disabilities. We work on some of the most pressing HCBS policy and delivery issues: service access and quality, direct care workforce shortages, housing capacity, and person centered planning.
Our HCBS Solutions
We collaborate with our partners to create informed, open, and accountable solutions that help communities thrive. Our expertise spans long-term services and supports (LTSS) with a focus on HCBS at the state and federal levels. Our staff are also experts in HCBS-adjacent programs such as vocational rehabilitation, workforce development, and care integration for individuals who receive both Medicare and Medicaid benefits. Our offerings include:
By promoting open engagement, amplifying community’s voices, and sharing data-informed updates, Mathematica helps build transparency and trust with HCBS communities. We strive to create and maintain open lines of communication that recognize progress is collectively owned and realized.
Through collaboration with federal and state policy makers, providers, managed care organizations, communities and other HCBS system partners, we strive to understand current strengths and gaps and identify and implement tomorrow’s solutions. Our experience spans section 1915 programs, 1115 demonstrations, and implementation of managed long-term services and supports.
HCBS systems are complex, and understanding requires diverse information about Medicaid enrollment and services, state mental health, housing, employment, experience of care and other state-specific programs. We provide a one-stop shop for data integration, cleaning, and transformation that enables holistic understanding of HCBS systems.
To identify the most important levers impacting HCBS outcomes, we draw on advanced statistical models and a deep understanding of HCBS policies and context to evaluate programs and services. We have almost two decades of experience monitoring HCBS processes and outcomes, including calculating many measures in CMS’ HCBS Quality Measure Set.
Proven Impact
Explore how we're helping government agencies and communities meet their goals.
Featured Projects
Medicaid Access and Managed Care Final Rules
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) final rules for Ensuring Access to Medicaid Services (Access Rule) and the Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Managed Care Access, Finance, and Quality Rule (Managed Care Rule) reflect the biggest regulatory changes to Medicaid and CHIP in nearly a decade. Collectively, these rules create opportunities to move our HCBS systems forward. Explore our blog posts to the right to learn some strategies for implementing new rules and using data to advance community integration.
Guidance for Implementation
- How States Should Respond to the Final Medicaid Access and Managed Care Rules
- It's Spring-Cleaning Time for State Medicaid Data on Home and Community-Based Services
- Create Your Medicaid Access Rule Data Roadmap
- Time to Ramp Up Collection and Analysis of Medicare Data for Dually Eligible Individuals Using Home and Community-Based Services
Connect with Our Experts
Our HCBS experts engage in this work because we believe that everyone should have the choice and ability to participate in their communities. Collaborate with our team to make this goal a reality. Contact us at HCBSPractice@mathematica-mpr.com to get started.
