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ANCOR

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ANCOR has shared that the first step to revise the Standard Occupational Classification process has begun. Today the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), on behalf of the Standard Occupational Classification Policy Committee (SOCPC) — which is the committee that makes recommendations to OMB for potential revisions — announced it is beginning the review of the 2018 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Manual for revisions to be made for 2028, and that it is soliciting public comment.

This is an opportunity to write comments in support of revisions to the SOC, in particular for the creation of a code for direct support professionals. In its notice for comments, OMB specifically notes that it “solicits and welcomes comments related to any aspect of occupational classification, especially comments concerning . . . whether to consider the addition of new detailed occupations or occupational groups, including specifically care workers.”

The public comment period is open until August 12, 2024. ANCOR will be submitting comments and providing additional guidance and tools to submit comments in the coming weeks.

For more information, the notice is available on the Federal Register website.

Last week, ANCOR and United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) unveiled the latest Case for Inclusion report: Transforming Temporary Progress into Long-Term SustainabilityThe report is a vital resource assessing the effectiveness of state Medicaid programs in serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families. Since 2019, ANCOR has partnered with UCP to publish this comprehensive report, combining transactional data with transformational stories to inspire positive change.

The Case for Inclusion 2024 provides a deep dive into community inclusion across three data snapshots, featuring nearly 80 measures spanning six crucial issue areas: Addressing a Workforce in Crisis; Promoting Independence; Reaching Those in Need; Serving at a Reasonable Cost; Keeping Families Together; and Tracking Health, Safety, & Quality of Life.

Key findings from the report shed light on critical issues, including notable increases in hourly wages for direct support professionals (DSP), rising vacancy rates with full-time vacancy rates increasing to 16.5% and part-time vacancy rates increasing to 20.3%, and persistent challenges in addressing waiting lists for home- and community-based services (HCBS), with 497,354 people on state waiting lists for HCBS across the country.

The report also emphasizes that 17 states and the District of Columbia have closed their state-run institutions. Furthermore, it highlights the participation of 38 states in the federal Money Follows the Person program and the approval of 18 demonstration waivers nationally addressing social determinants of health with 17 more pending.