The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that they will be conducting a national listening session on Section 1915(c)(11). This listening session has been scheduled for Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 1:30 pm.

Section 1915(c)(11) was created under Section 71121 of Public Law 119 21, known as HR 1 or the Working Families Tax Cut (WFTC) legislation. Effective July 2028, this new authority provides states with another option for providing home and community-based services (HCBS) in Medicaid. Use this link to learn more.

CMS is interested in gathering input on how Section 1915(c)(11) can best support states, strengthen HCBS, improve participant experience, enhance program integrity, and advance integration and quality across Medicaid programs. CMS seeks to hear directly from stakeholders about opportunities, challenges, implementation considerations, and lived experiences to inform future guidance, tools/resources, and training.

This session is for listening only; beyond making brief introductory comments, CMS staff will not engage in discussion or respond to comments. Participants are invited to share their experiences, perspectives, and recommendations related to Section 1915(c)(11), including:

• Opportunities to improve access to HCBS through the new 1915(c)(11) waiver option;
• Ideas for using 1915(c)(11) to improve cost efficiency, such as reducing unnecessary institutional utilization; and
• Implementation barriers states or providers may face when adopting 1915(c)(11).

Those interested in participating in this listening session should register here.