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Health, human services and disability providers urge council to protect HHS programs, minority health initiatives and DD supplement
Summary
Representatives of public‑health coalitions, community clinics and developmental‑disability providers asked the County Council to preserve funding for Department of Health and Human Services programs, minority health initiatives, community clinics and the developmental‑disability (DD) supplement for direct support professionals.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. — Health and human‑services advocates and disability‑service providers told the County Council at the April 8 hearing that funding for HHS programs, minority health initiatives, community clinics and the developmental‑disability supplement should be preserved amid state and federal uncertainty.
Speakers representing the Latino Health Initiative, the Asian American Health Initiative, and the African American Health Program said the county’s investment in community partnerships was crucial during the COVID‑19 pandemic and is needed to sustain trust and capacity. “We present an urgent request for the council members to fully support HHS’s request,” Diego Yerburo said as co‑chair of a Latino health committee.
Community clinics and faith‑based partners said small increases in clinic reimbursement rates are necessary to preserve safety‑net primary care. Mark McCarthy of Saint Dunstan’s Episcopal Church supported a proposed per‑visit increase for Montgomery Cares and urged the council to consider a higher reimbursement that some providers say they need to maintain capacity.
Disability service providers urged the council to approve a 3 percent increase to the DD supplement that local governments add to state rates to support direct support professionals. Interact coalition leaders said the supplement improved wages and reduced turnover; Jubilee Association and other providers said state cuts and federal uncertainty make local support more critical. “The supplement allows Jubilee to pay $2 an hour more to our highly skilled direct support professionals and provide a competitive wage during a historic staffing crisis,” Mary Rinderos of Jubilee said.
Food‑system and anti‑poverty groups described impacts of federal funding changes and requested local support. Community Farm Share asked the council to replace lost federal Local Food Purchase Agreement funding to sustain mobile farm markets that supply culturally appropriate produce to schools, clinics and food‑assistance partners.
