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Advocates and Caregivers Warn Against Cutting Community First Choice as PCA Payroll Failures Fuel Hardship
Summary
People with disabilities, personal care attendants (PCAs) and disability advocates told Connecticut's Appropriations Human Services subcommittee that ending Community First Choice (CFC) and ongoing payroll failures have placed thousands at risk of institutionalization, eviction and loss of care. Witnesses urged lawmakers to preserve CFC, fix the state's fiscal intermediary problems and increase oversight.
Connecticut's human services budget hearing turned into an urgent plea from people with disabilities, family caregivers and personal care attendants on Tuesday, as dozens of witnesses described how a proposed end to the Community First Choice (CFC) program and continuing payroll failures have destabilized families and workers.
Advocates said the governor's midterm budget adjustment (HB 5032) wants to sunset CFC and transfer participants onto waiver programs, but witnesses and provider data warned that long waiver wait lists and capped enrollment mean many people would lose timely home-based care and face nursing-home placement. "If CFC goes away, people would be forced into nursing homes," said multiple witnesses representing Connecticut ADAPT and independent living centers, noting the program serves roughly 7,250 current participants according to…
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