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Witness urges 7% pay bump for direct-support workers caring for people with developmental disabilities
Summary
A public commenter representing iBudget waiver stakeholders urged the committee to recommend a modest 7% rate increase for direct-support professionals, citing increased costs and workforce pressures and noting about 38,000 people currently on the waiver.
Melissa Mazeta told the committee that the iBudget waiver, which supports people with developmental disabilities, serves about 38,000 Floridians and that the last rate increase for direct-support professionals was roughly three years ago. She urged a modest 7% adjustment to stabilize the workforce, citing higher operating costs for providers and issues with Medicaid disenrollment that have affected service continuity.
Mazeta said the new program director has prioritized cleaning up the waiver wait list and that stakeholders should build on that progress with sustainable support for a competent workforce. Her remarks were recorded during the committee's public-comment period; no committee action on the waiver was taken at this meeting.
