Speak Up Today as Congress Starts Working on New COVID-19 Funding Bill

Updates from ANCOR:
As we continue to work through this COVID-19 crisis, we understand that that the fiscal situation has changed for many of you.

We would like to get a better understanding of where you are today regarding fiscal impact – both revenues lost and expenses increased – as we ramp up our advocacy for the fourth Relief Package.

Please take a few minutes to review your data and share it with us in this survey as soon as possible.

If you have any questions, please reach out directly to Donna Martin.

ALSO:

Please use the ANCOR email tool to ask your members of Congress to support provisions increasing funding for the Medicaid Home and Community-Based (HCBS) Program as they consider provisions of the House-approved HEROES Act.

The HCBS program covers the majority of intellectual / developmental disability (I/DD) supports. There are provisions to increase funding for this program in the HEROES Act, which was passed by the House in mid-May, to meet the needs of individuals and staff during the pandemic. Over the next two weeks, the Senate will draft its companion bill to the House’s HEROES Act. By speaking up today on behalf of I/DD supports, you will help keep the needs of people with disabilities and the professionals supporting them front of mind as Congress negotiates its next round of COVID-19 relief legislation.

Important to Know: The funding proposed in this legislation is separate from and in addition to the Medicaid COVID-19 emergency funding committed by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on June 9. Learn more about the HHS emergency funding, which was made possible thanks to advocacy by ANCOR members like you.

The Details on the HEROES Act:

After the House passed the HEROES Act in May, the Senate did not immediately take up the legislation for two reasons. First, the national discussion about police brutality consumed Congress’ attention, and it continues to grapple with police reform legislation. Second, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) thought the economy and the broader coronavirus situation had improved enough to make a fourth COVID-19 legislative package less urgent. Recent spikes in COVID-19 cases, subsequent limitations on hospital capacity and the impact of these dynamics on the economic situation have changed Leader McConnell’s assessment of the necessity of additional federal relief.

Growing evidence of the urgency of the COVID-19 situation facing just about every state in the nation creates an opportunity to bring the spotlight back to the #ForgottenFaces of the pandemic: people with I/DD and the professionals on which they rely for support. Increased COVID-19 funding from Congress for Medicaid-funded HCBS service providers can be used to purchase safety supplies, strengthen wages for Direct Support Professionals, and otherwise keep people with I/DD healthy and safe during the pandemic.

Please take a minute today to ask Congress to strengthen Medicaid-funded I/DD programs during the pandemic.