A Dual Advisory Council Model for Person-centered 
Home and Community-based Services Research

The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Home and Community-based Services (HCBS) is is entering its final phase and is completing analyses, publishing papers and preparing its concluding deliverables. A defining feature of this work has been its 25-member advisory structure, bringing together two complementary groups: the Participants Council, composed of people with lived experience receiving HCBS, and the Adoption and Implementation Council, made up of providers, leaders and system-level stakeholders. This article highlights insights from council members Renee Manfredi and Todd Costello.

On the Podcast: Accessible Air Travel with 
Open Doors Organization

Meet Carli Friedman, PhD: Examining Ableism 
in Healthcare and HCBS

Carli Friedman, PhD, director of research at the Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL), studies how ableism, policy and service systems affect people with disabilities. Her research examines how provider bias influences healthcare experiences and outcomes, including maternal health and rehabilitation services. As part of our mission at CROR, we profile thought leaders in the field of HCBS.

CROR researchers are seeking current and former HCBS recipients to test survey questions designed to measure the person-centeredness of their services. Eligible participants will complete two or more one-hour surveys, online or via phone or Zoom, to share their experiences with HCBS.

Researchers at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Northwestern University and Indiana University want to learn more about the air travel experiences of people with physical disabilities. We are seeking participants for focus groups, as well as for a study that involves documenting a trip that includes air travel through photographs and interviews.

A curated roundup of recent HCBS-related articles for our readers to enjoy

Identifying Dual-Eligible Beneficiaries With Long-Term Services and Supports Use in Medicare Enrollment Data. Keohane LM, Keesee E, Fabius CD, Stevenson DG. Medical Care Research and Review. Med Care Res Rev. Dec. 2025.

Beyond Digitalization: Essential Information Technology and Procurement Insights for Successful interRAI System Adoption. Björkgren MA, Saari ME, Thomasson ME, Gray LC. Healthcare Management Forum. Nov. 2025.

Examining State Policies and Administrative Factors as Determinants of Consumer-Reported Unmet Service Needs in Publicly Funded Home- and Community-Based Services in the United States. Parikh RR, Shippee TP, Langworthy B, Wang Z, Giordano S, Jutkowitz E. Journal of Market Access & Health Policy. Dec. 2025.

Racial and Ethnic Inequities in the Relationship Between State Home and Community-Based Services Expenditures and Long-Term Care Utilization in the United States: A Fixed-Effects Analysis. Lee AR, Yang Y, Rapp T, Torres JM. Journal of Aging & Social Policy. Oct. 2025.

Bridging the gaps: building a labor force to meet long-term care needs. Orji AO. Health Affairs Scholar. Nov. 2025.

HCBS Quality Matters is produced by the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) in the Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research (CROR) at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. It is supported by a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant 90RTGE0004). The contents of this newsletter do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR.

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