Families, providers urge lawmakers to raise Medicaid waiver rates, shore up caregiver pay and clear DD waiting list

Members of the public and provider groups urged the House Appropriations Committee and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee to increase rates under Medicaid waivers, raise wages for direct care staff and expand core supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The issue reached the committees during a regional virtual budget hearing convened by Delegate Luke Torian, who opened the session and explained its purpose. Multiple speakers described caregiving shortages and financial pressure on providers and families.

The Nut Graf: Speakers said low provider rates and low pay for direct support professionals are driving turnover and limiting services, and they asked lawmakers for immediate rate increases, a better DMAS rate study process, and funding to create or pilot “core services” while people remain on the developmental disability (DD) waiver waiting list.

Providers and family members gave specific examples. Denolda Jones, owner and CEO of Foundation Supportive Care LLC, asked lawmakers to “match the reimbursement rates for supported living…to those…