What Budget Control Mechanisms are Used to Ensure that HCBSP Spending Remains Within Budget Limits?
Like most other programs that have only a certain amount of money within which to operate, the HCBSP has specific policies that establish limits on program costs. Participation is controlled by setting financial and functional disability levels; it offers a limited number of specified services; and it establishes cost caps on client care plans, specific services and even on reimbursement rates for specific services. Also like many other programs, the SPED component includes a participant cost-sharing provision, to generate income, but perhaps even more importantly, to encourage recipients to be more cost-conscious and selective of the types and levels of service they request. Cost control functions associated with care planning are performed by the county-based care managers on a case-by-case basis. Tracking program expenditures is a centralized function that occurs at the state level, in the Aging Services Division. For the Medicaid waiver element of the program, the state has not had
