Kaiser Family Foundation has published a new report, A Look at Waiting Lists for Medicaid Home- and Community-Based Services from 2016 to 2023. The report provides insight into one important measure of unmet need for home and community-based services (HCBS) across states.

A few highlights from the report include: 

• The number of states with waiting lists hasn’t changed significantly over time. Currently, 38 states have them.
• As of 2023, there are over 692,000 people on waiting or interest lists for HCBS services.
• Most people on waiting or interest lists for HCBS live in states that do not screen for eligibility before adding people to lists.
• Most people on waiting or interest lists are eligible for other HCBS services, but those services may not fully meet their needs.