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Tags Posts tagged with "Workforce Crisis"

Workforce Crisis

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News from ANCOR:

Dear ANCOR members,

I write to call your attention to a segment that aired during Saturday’s episode of Good Morning America on the direct support workforce crisis. The story chronicling staffing shortages in group homes on Long Island and nationally included excerpts from an interview with ANCOR COO Gabrielle Sedor, as well as reference to ANCOR’s research on the State of America’s Direct Support Workforce Crisis. Overall, the show did an excellent job of packaging complex issues into an accessible, three-minute story.

View and share Good Morning America’s feature on the direct support workforce crisis.

GMA is the latest among several high-profile outlets showcasing the direct support workforce crisis, illustrating growing acknowledgment of the significance of our field’s recruitment and retention obstacles. To that end, I hope you will consider sharing the link to the video on social media and in your advocacy so we can help further amplify this important message.

Finally, this high-profile feature simply would not have happened without the contributions of Michael Seereiter, President & CEO of the New York Alliance for Inclusion & Innovation (who was also interviewed for the segment) who connected us with the producer, and Lauren Tilghman, Director of Strategic Communications for KenCrest who provided some of the photos that were used in the segment. Thank you, Michael and Lauren!

With gratitude,

Sean Luechtefeld, PhD, CAE (he/him)
Vice President, Membership & Communications
ANCOR

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The PA House of Representatives passed HB 1300 (Fiscal Code) by a vote of 121-82. The Fiscal Code contains language appropriating the $100 million for mental health funding, which follows the recommendations of the Behavioral Health Commission’s recommendations. The Fiscal Code also provides another $34.5 million to expand mental health services, $34 million for workforce initiatives, and over $30 million for criminal justice and public safety.

The House also passed HB 1456, a general appropriations bill. HB 1456 passed by a vote of 115-88. The bill provided new monies of $50 million towards intellectual disabilities and direct support professional (DSP) workforce retention. The bill would also fund $642 million for Penn State University, the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt), and Temple University. While there is good news for the IDD providers in regards to additional workforce funding, the bill was challenged by House Republicans because the Penn State, Pitt, and Temple funding requires a two-thirds (supermajority) vote, which was why the colleges were not funded back in June.

This week, the House also passed a tax code bill and a school code bill.

Despite the flurry of legislative activity on the code bills in the House, the code bills will not have to go to the Senate for a concurrence vote. The code bills passed by the House contain new spending (i.e. IDD workforce retention), and the new spending was not negotiated with the Senate; therefore, the expectation is that because there is not a deal between the House and the Senate on the new spending, the Senate will not concur on the code bills.

The Senate will return to session on Monday, October 16.

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Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey, the Chairman of the Special Committee on Aging, will be introducing new legislation on the floor of Senate titled “The Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Relief Act of 2023.”

The HCBS Relief Act of 2023 would provide dedicated Medicaid funds to states for two years to stabilize their HCBS service delivery networks, recruit and retain HCBS direct care workers, and meet the long-term service and support needs of people eligible for Medicaid home and community-based services. States would receive a 10-point increase in the federal match (FMAP) for Medicaid for two fiscal years to enhance HCBS. Funds could be used to increase direct care worker pay, provide benefits such as paid family leave or sick leave, and pay for transportation expenses to and from the homes of those being served. The additional funds also can be used to support family caregivers, pay for recruitment and training of additional direct care workers, and pay for technology to facilitate services. The funds can help decrease or eliminate the waiting lists for HCBS in the states.

The HCBS Relief Act of 2023 will be introduced during the fourth week of October with a House companion bill expected to be released in the near future. Please join RCPA in supporting this critical piece of legislation to create a viable and sustainable pathway for HCBS.

If you have any questions, please contact your respective RCPA Policy Director.

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Senior woman with her caregiver at home

House Resolution (HR) 165, which was introduced by Representative Kim, directs the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee (LBFC) to conduct a study on the effect of workforce shortages on State-supported Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) waiver programs as well as the PA lottery-funded OPTIONS programs in the state. If the Resolution passes, LBFC will have 7 months to conduct the study. RCPA will keep members apprised on the status of the resolution.

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The National Council for Mental Wellbeing is calling for support to address the ongoing mental health and substance use crises. They are organizing a virtual advocacy event called Hill Day on October 18 from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm EST, where participants can urge elected officials to focus on key issues such as the behavioral health workforce shortage, establishing Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) into federal law, expanding access to substance use care, and investing in crisis care infrastructure. Register for the event today!

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