Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a new CMCS Informational Bulletin signaling that through January 1, 2029 the agency does not anticipate taking enforcement action against states that miss the initial deadlines for establishing and convening the Interested Parties Advisory Group (IPAG) required under the Ensuring Access to Medicaid Services rule, or Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Access Rule. The IPAG requirement, finalized in the HCBS Access Rule, is intended to create a structured forum for direct care workers, HCBS beneficiaries (and/or their representatives), and other stakeholders to advise state Medicaid agencies on the adequacy of rates paid to direct care workers delivering certain HCBS. Although this delayed enforcement is applicable only to the IPAG requirement, it does signal consideration by CMS to revisit this provision of the HCBS Access Rule. (ANCOR)