The ACCESS Act, introduced in April 2026, expands Medicaid coverage to include services provided in assisted living residences starting January 1, 2027. Under the bill, states must cover assisted living services for eligible individuals who would otherwise require hospital or nursing facility care, as long as the estimated annual cost per person does not exceed what would have been spent in institutional settings. The legislation also modifies the low-income housing tax credit program to prioritize projects that reduce long-term care costs by providing services to elderly individuals in non-institutional settings rather than hospitals or nursing homes. States that need to change their laws to comply have until the first regular legislative session ending after one year from the bill's enactment to make those changes. The bill aims to give low-income seniors more affordable housing options while potentially reducing government healthcare spending by shifting care to community-based assisted living facilities.
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