State of the Union Address and Impact on IDD Services
Workforce Crisis
ID/A Associations Share Messaging for 2024/25 PA Budget
Governor Shapiro has proposed a significant increase of funding to the ID/A system, and the legislature will begin deliberating the Governor’s plan. Now is the time to ask to secure this funding and maintain it in the next fiscal year’s budget.
RCPA has partnered with The Arc of PA, TPA, PAR, The Alliance, and MAX to develop a document for our members to share with legislators and other stakeholders that summarizes our message regarding support for the Governor’s budget. This document is now available to use. Additionally, RCPA has made available our legislative priorities one-pager that covers all divisions. We ask that you use both the ID/A document and the one-pager during your legislative visits, including those scheduled during our Capitol Day event on March 19.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Carol Ferenz.
February 2024 ISAC Meeting Materials Released
The Valley Ledger: Governor Shapiro’s Budget Is A Lifeline For Families and Individuals With ID/A, by Nancy Murray, Chair of The Provider Alliance Government Affairs Committee
Times Leader: Luzerne/Wyoming Providers Association Forum Focuses on Workforce Initiatives, Funding, Co-Moderated by RCPA President/CEO Richard Edley and Director of GA Jack Phillips
DHS 2024/25 Budget Presentation Gives Good News for IDD Providers
Today, Secretary Arkoosh presented an overview of the proposed Department of Human Services (DHS) budget in the Governor’s proposed budget he unveiled earlier this week. Governor Shapiro is prioritizing investments in IDD home and community-based service providers so that they can pay competitive rates to attract and retain staff who provide these life-changing services to Pennsylvanians.
Secretary Arkoosh stated, “It’s time to make a change,” and people need “the right service at the right time.” PA is about to embark on a multi-year wait list plan.
In September, Governor Shapiro directed DHS’s Office of Developmental Programs to begin an immediate evaluation and assessment of the rates paid to intellectual disability and autism programs that employ direct support professionals. Building on that, the governor is proposing an increase in reimbursement rates by 12%, which will invest a total of over $480 million, divided by state ($217 million) and federal ($266 million) funding for programs that support ID/A. It is proposed that the rate increase will become effective July 2024. Additionally, one-time supplemental payments to support staffing recruitment and retention were announced. These funds are anticipated to be distributed to providers in May or June 2024 and will total $109 million.
ODP will be working closely with counties to shift to management by budget rather than slots, and effective immediately, the department is adding 1,250 in Community Living and 250 in Consolidated people to the waiver capacity ($78 million in funding).
This budget also invests $934,000 to add American Sign Language and English interpreter services to program serving this population as a distinct service.
While this is very positive news for the ID/A community, this is the proposed budget. We all need to continue to advocate with legislators to support this proposal and give the ID/A services the support they need. Please share your stories with your local legislator and participate in our upcoming capitol day on March 19, 2024. You can register to participate in the event here. Also, we ask that you take the time to thank Governor Shapiro for hearing our voices and addressing our critical needs.
BHARP to Present Workforce and Staffing Report at Next RCPA SUD Committee Meeting
ID/A Community Praises Gov. Shapiro’s Budget Address, Actions on Addressing System Funding
Visualizing the Behavioral Health Workforce Crisis — CDR Data Talk on Feb. 22
Visualizing the Behavioral Health Workforce Crisis
February 22, 2024, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EST
Register Here
Featuring Charles Klinger, Chief Operating Officer, Behavioral Health Alliance of Rural PA (BHARP)
Charles has led a collaborative data project across 24 Pennsylvania counties. It paints a picture of a devastated workforce.
Agencies provide this data, and review it with government and managed care. It is being used to support recruitment and retention efforts.
Charles and his team are working together to find solutions to the BH workforce crisis.
Charles has led the Provider Workforce Staffing (PWS) report in response to the major changes in behavioral health staffing since 2020. Over 20% of available positions remain unfilled, signaling an increased divide between available workers and population need.
This report highlights the costs of adequately filling our network in a clear and comprehensive way. Average rate of pay for a multitude of mental health jobs have been reviewed in the PWS report, from psychiatrists to housekeepers.
Most BH staffing problems arise from lack of available workers. According to Charles’ research, workers are leaving jobs, and there are no candidates available to replace them. Many jobs have consistently remained vacant.
For those from Pennsylvania, the PWS is particularly illuminating, as it focuses on state-specific needs, like the loss of workers in every level from outpatient care, to intensive behavioral health services (IBHS).
The Hill: Medicaid Providers Need a More Sensible Approach to Labor’s Overtime Proposal
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