We care about the people who use services for behavioral health, disability or aging. Just as important are the families and loved ones serving in caregiving roles.
As experts in your role, we need your help.
Community-Based Services Overview
Hope and Opportunity in Many Environments (HOME) is a project in Iowa that is working to improve and ensure that everyone has access to high-quality behavioral health, disability and aging services in their communities.
To achieve this, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS) has taken many steps to deeply understand what can be improved. The first step occurred in 2023. It was an evaluation of community-based services. Second, the team created a transformation plan to guide the next steps and implement the suggested improvements to work together to build a better HOME. Since then, Iowa HHS has gathered insights from Iowans who use community-based services, their caregivers, case managers and service providers.
Based on those recommendations, the team created a transformation plan to guide the next steps and implement the suggested improvements to work together to build a better HOME.
Iowans who use community-based services, their caregivers, case managers and service providers recently provided the HOME team with information about their experiences with care. Click here to view the results from the survey.
HOME Process and Timeline
The HOME team is working to improve systems for all Iowans accessing community-based services. This system redesign is taking place through December 2025. Recent updates, resources and a current project timeline can be found here.
How did we get here?
To learn more about the steps taken, please check this document that shows work that has been accomplished, including feedback that was collected from community members, providers, case managers and supervisors, community-based organizations and advocacy staff.
What have Iowans shared?
Iowans have been shaping the future of HOME in many ways. Navigate to this site to learn about how Iowa HHS has engaged the public, learn about the ideas shared and watch recordings of previous sessions.
How will changes to the waivers impact me?
Iowa HHS has created an FAQ to address frequently asked questions.
How do I get involved?
We want to keep gathering input from Iowans! You can get involved in multiple ways:
- Sign up for our newsletter or find us on Facebook to learn about updates
- Share your personal experiences and insights through group discussions, interviews, and surveys
- Share additional suggestions through online public comments to improve the CBS system
- Join a Medicaid Member Town Hall
Please sign up here to express your interest. If you have any questions, you can contact us at iowahcbs@mathematica-mpr.com
You can help shape the future of this project by sharing your thoughts and ideas through virtual and in-person community feedback opportunities.
What are the current feedback opportunities?
Please join us at Iowa Medicaid Town Halls. Iowa HHS will share updates on HOME progress and ask you to share your feedback too. Visit the Medicaid Town Hall webpage for a list of upcoming meetings.
May 2024
Waiver redesign concept paper: Invested Iowans have provided valuable feedback throughout the public engagement process – in May 2024, Iowa HHS hosted 3 listening sessions, with members and providers, to gather direct feedback on the proposed changes to home and community-based services waivers outlined in the concept paper. If you were unable to attend a listening session, view the presentation and recording below.
HOME Updates
The Hope and Opportunity in Many Environments (HOME) team is working to improve systems for all Iowans accessing community-based services. This system redesign will take place through December 2024 and is an opportunity for Iowans to share their feedback and improve community-based services. Recent updates, resources and current project timeline can be found here. The timeline below includes opportunities for feedback from community members, providers, case managers and supervisors and community-based organizations and advocacy staff.