Providers and frontline workers urge full funding of foster care rate reform as hospitals report overstays
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Summary
Provider groups, hospital representatives and child-welfare workers urged the subcommittee to fully fund rate reform, saying flat funding strains capacity and contributes to hospital overstays; hospitals reported about 33 pediatric overstays on Jan. 31, and providers said past rate increases helped staffing and placement capacity.
Provider groups and frontline child-welfare staff urged the Health and Social Services Subcommittee to fully fund foster care rate reform during the Department of Human Services Social Services Administration budget hearing on Feb. 25.
Sarah Hairgrove of the Community Behavioral Health Association of Maryland called full funding "a moral imperative," saying flat funding acts as a cut that reduces provider capacity. "We respectfully urge you to fully fund rate reform for child placement agencies," she told the panel.
Grace Weldon, a CPS social worker and AFSCME member, described staff shortages and high caseload complexity that she said are degrading service delivery: "Child welfare staff are buckling under the pressure," she said, and urged investment in frontline workers.
Rob Bassler of Arrow Shawn and Family Ministries said previous rate reform for residential child care providers enabled wage increases and facility upgrades that helped place youth who otherwise were stuck in hospitals or hotels. Theresa Hessler of MARFY said flat funding forces providers to absorb rising costs, which she warned will shrink placement capacity unless rates are adjusted.
Jane Krenke of the Maryland Hospital Association described an urgent capacity problem in pediatric behavioral health: "As of January 31 ... there were approximately 33 youth experiencing a pediatric hospital overstay across the state," she said, adding that hospitals are not appropriate long-term settings for these patients and urging the state to accelerate bed creation.
Witnesses said rate reform is necessary to stabilize the provider workforce, open beds and reduce the number of youth remaining in hospitals and other unlicensed settings. They asked the subcommittee to prioritize funding in forthcoming budget decisions.
