The Ask:
It’s time to tell Congress we need action now. Use our action tool to tell Congress to invest in our community-based supports and services and ensure people with I/DD have the necessary services to succeed!
The Details:
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) rely upon the Medicaid Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) program to live full and independent lives in the community across their lifespans. Funded primarily through Medicaid, the federal government covers a share of the budget by state, and states set fixed rates that I/DD service providers cannot negotiate.
Decades of underinvestment in the program have caused stagnant wages, resulting in high turnover and vacancy rates among the direct support professionals (DSPs) who provide these critical supports. Simply put, the workforce crisis has now accelerated to the point of closing programs and services, threatening access to HCBS.
Currently, Medicaid rates are too low for service providers to be competitive employers. As a result, providers are turning away new referrals and discontinuing existing services due to a lack of staffing. As a result, people are being forced to travel significant distances to access services, or are facing increased risk of hospitalization or institutionalization. Additional funding is critical to stabilizing the workforce while sustaining and expanding services for people with I/DD.
