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Purpose

Authority

Purpose

The HCBS Commission advises on the development, implementation, and coordination of HCBS programs and policies in American Samoa. We bring together the policy, financing, and data work needed to build a durable, territory-wide system of care — one that meets federal standards, removes the barriers that have kept families from support, strengthens person-centered services, and can be sustained over time. Central to this work is the development of American Samoa's Olmstead Plan, the Territory's commitment to serving people in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs.

Authority

The Commission is an advisory body, established under Executive Order No. 009-25 and A.S.C.A. § 4.0111. American Samoa's HCBS effort is supported by the federal Money Follows the Person (MFP) initiative, which helps territories and states expand home- and community-based care. Following Executive Order No. 009-25 in December 2025, the Governor appointed the Commission's members and its Commissioner in February 2026. The Commission held its historical orientation on May 22, 2026, and convened its first official meeting on May 29, 2026. 
 

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Commissioner

The Commission is led by Commissioner Abigail Poyer, appointed by Governor Pulaali'i Nikolao Pula in February 2026. She brings more than a decade of leadership in public health, strategic planning , and federal grant management. The Commissioner serves as the CEO, leading its day-to-day work alongside a small dedicated team and is a non-voting member of the Commission.

Membership

The Commission brings together voices from across American Samoa — leaders in healthcare, disability advocacy, legal aid, aging, and community life, alongside representatives of the government agencies whose work touches home- and community-based care. This breadth is by design: a system meant to serve everyone should be shaped by everyone it serves.

Members serve staggered terms — not to exceed two years for most seats, and not to exceed three years for the consumer, lived-experience, and family-member seats — so that continuity is built into the Commission's work from the start. Members may be reappointed at the Governor's discretion. The full stagger schedule is set out in the Executive Order.

Voting Members

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  • A Health Information subject matter expert

  • Two representatives with lived experience from the target populations (older adults, individuals with physical disabilities, and other qualified populations as defined under the MFP program)

  • Two representatives from family members of people receiving care

  • Pacific Center in Human Security

  • Developmental Disabilities Planning Council

  • American Samoa Legal Aid

  • Dementia Friendly American Samoa

  • Hope House

Ex-Offcio Members

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HCBS Commission
Office of the Governor
Utulei, American Samoa.   
Contact Us

American Samoa’s Home and Community‑Based Services (HCBS) program provides services without discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, religion, or any other status protected by applicable federal or territorial law.​ The HCBS program complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as applicable, and all other nondiscrimination requirements attached to federal financial assistance. The HCBS program is committed to ensuring equitable access to long‑term services and supports for all eligible residents of American Samoa, including individuals who have historically faced barriers to care.In pursuing this commitment, the program does not provide  preferential treatment or restrict eligibility based on race or color, and it does not segregate individuals in services or activities based on protected characteristics; all policies and practices are designed to comply with federal antidiscrimination laws.

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The Home & Community-Based Services Commission of American Samoa website is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), under financial assistance award 1LICMS331881-01-00 totaling $266,880, which is 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are solely the responsibility of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, or imply endorsement by, CMS, HHS, or the U.S. Government.

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