The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has received additional resources through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), to improve and enhance Wisconsin’s home and community-based services (HCBS) under Medicaid. This funding includes an increase of 5% for most HCBS rates or 4.13% when calculated for residential covered services (combined single rate of care and supervision/room and board – the rate increase does not apply to the room and board portion, as this is a non-covered service). A key focus of the plan is to support and strengthen the caregiving workforce. All rate increases are effective January 1, 2022.

Eligible Services for the ARPA Increase:

  • Adult day care services
  • Alcohol and other drug abuse (AODA)
  • AODA day treatment
  • Assistive technology/communication aid
  • Community supported living (CSL)
  • Consultative clinical and therapeutic services for caregivers
  • Consumer-directed supports (self-directed supports) broker
  • Consumer education and training
  • Counseling and therapeutic
  • Environmental accessibility assessments
  • Financial management services
  • Habilitation services (daily living skills training and day habilitation resources)
  • Home-delivered meals
  • Home health services
  • Housing counseling
  • Medication therapy management
  • Mental health day treatment
  • Mental health services
  • Nursing (in home)
  • Occupational therapy (in home)
  • Personal care
  • Physical therapy (in home)
  • Prevocational services
  • Residential care
  • Residential substance use disorder treatment
  • Respiratory care
  • Respite
  • Self-directed personal care
  • Skilled nursing services (RN/LPN)
  • Speech and language pathology services (in home)
  • Substance use disorder counseling
  • Supported employment – individual employment support
  • Supported employment – small group employment support
  • Supportive home care (SHC)
  • Training services for unpaid caregivers
  • Transportation services (excluding common carrier/taxi provided nonemergency transportation and ambulance services)
  • Vocational futures planning and support (VFPS)